Illegal Dumping of Industrial Waste in Tohoku and Shikoku - May 1998

Illegal Dumping of Industrial Waste in Tohoku and Shikoku - May 1998

In 1998, Japan faced a nationwide issue of illegal dumping of industrial waste. Particularly in the mountainous and uninhabited areas of Iwate Prefecture in the Tohoku region and Kochi Prefecture in the Shikoku region, large amounts of industrial waste were illegally dumped, causing environmental damage. The illegally dumped waste included hazardous chemicals such as concrete, asbestos, and PCB (Polychlorinated Biphenyl) from the construction and manufacturing industries. These substances contaminated groundwater and soil, posing a significant risk to the health of local residents and agricultural crops.

For example, in Iwate Prefecture, a 1998 survey revealed that more than 1,000 tons of waste had been illegally dumped, much of it improperly processed industrial waste. Similarly, in Kochi Prefecture, over 100 tons of waste were found dumped in forests, some of which contained hazardous substances. The motivation behind this illegal dumping was primarily to avoid the high costs of proper waste disposal, leading some companies to resort to illegal methods.

In response, the government strengthened penalties for illegal dumping based on the 1997 revision of the Waste Management Law and tightened the supervision of waste disposal companies. Major companies such as Sumitomo Chemical and Hitachi were also required to ensure transparency in their waste management practices, while local governments worked with authorities to establish a monitoring system.