### The History and Current State of the Waste-to-Energy Facility in Kanuma City, Tochigi Prefecture - November 1997 to the 2020s

### The History and Current State of the Waste-to-Energy Facility in Kanuma City, Tochigi Prefecture - November 1997 to the 2020s

#### Introduction in 1997
In November 1997, Kanuma City, Tochigi Prefecture, began trial operations of its waste-to-energy facility with the aim of reducing environmental impact. This facility, utilizing subsidies from the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, is equipped with two incinerators for processing industrial and household waste. It boasts a daily power generation capacity of 2400 kilowatts, of which 1200 kilowatts are sold as surplus electricity. This initiative, part of "thermal recycling," attracted attention as a new effort to reuse waste as a resource.

At that time, Kanuma City actively promoted recycling projects such as RDF (refuse-derived fuel) and established a foundation for the growth of the environmental business. Initial challenges included uncertainty in electricity sales prices and profitability, but the investment in power generators showed promise for expanding the business.

#### Developments in the 2000s
In the 2000s, as Japan pursued policies to promote waste recycling, Kanuma City's waste-to-energy facility played an important role as a regional recycling hub. During this period, the city strengthened collaboration with surrounding municipalities and expanded the acceptance of waste from a wider area, while improving power generation capacity and gas treatment systems.

To increase operational efficiency, the facility introduced ICT (Information and Communication Technology) to manage waste collection and processing data. This reduced operational costs and improved transparency in waste management. Additionally, efforts to raise public awareness of environmental issues were actively conducted through school education and community events.

#### Upgrades in 2015–2016
After approximately 20 years of operation, the facility underwent major upgrades in 2015 to address aging equipment. These included the replacement of incinerators and gas treatment systems to improve efficiency and extend the facility's lifespan. Supported by the Ministry of the Environment, the upgrades were completed in March 2016. The renewed facility incorporated advanced gas treatment technology, achieving reductions in dioxin emissions and improvements in energy efficiency.

#### Current State in the 2020s
In the 2020s, Kanuma City formulated its "5th Kanuma City Environmental Basic Plan," aiming to achieve a carbon-neutral society by 2050. This plan emphasizes local production and consumption of renewable energy and the promotion of energy businesses. However, changes in lifestyles due to the COVID-19 pandemic have kept waste generation levels high.

In response, Kanuma City has been promoting the 3Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle) and enhancing proper waste separation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with waste management. The city continues to explore new technologies and policies to cut waste processing costs and enhance regional sustainability.

---

Since the trial operations began in November 1997, Kanuma City has evolved its waste-to-energy facility efforts, strengthening efficiency and regional collaboration in the 2000s, completing major upgrades in March 2016, and moving forward with a vision of achieving a carbon-neutral society in the 2020s.