Waste Incineration Facility Issues - October 2000

Waste Incineration Facility Issues - October 2000

In Oita Prefecture's wide-area waste disposal plan, the construction of waste incineration facilities is underway, with particular attention on the establishment of the Sano Cleaning Center. This facility is scheduled to start operations in 2003 and is designed to process 3.87 million tons of waste per day. The total project cost is 21.8 billion yen, and Takuma Corporation, a major company in cleaning equipment, is in charge of design and construction. In terms of technology, the latest exhaust gas treatment systems will be introduced to significantly reduce the emission of dioxins and particulate matter generated during incineration. Additionally, efforts are being made to recycle incineration ash, and the use of ash for building materials is being considered.

The facility is located in Oita City and plays a key role in collecting and processing waste from the entire Oita Prefecture. However, concerns have been raised by local residents about air pollution and health risks, particularly regarding dioxin emissions. In response, Oita Prefecture has held public hearings to explain the safety and environmental impact of the facility, making efforts to build trust with the community.

Furthermore, new burner technology will be introduced to improve the combustion efficiency of the incineration facility, allowing for complete combustion of waste and significantly reducing the emission of harmful substances. This project is seen as one of the solutions to the waste disposal problems faced by Oita Prefecture and is drawing attention both locally and nationally.