Illegal Dumping Mountain" - Environmental Crisis in Ishioka City, Ibaraki Prefecture (2024)

Illegal Dumping Mountain" - Environmental Crisis in Ishioka City, Ibaraki Prefecture (2024)

A large amount of industrial waste was illegally dumped in a mountainous area in the Komi district of Ishioka City, Ibaraki Prefecture, creating a serious environmental problem dubbed "Illegal Dumping Mountain" by local residents. An estimated 12,000 cubic meters of waste was piled up in a heap, including construction waste, waste plastic, used tires, and food scraps. A foul odor wafted into the surrounding area, and the possibility of groundwater contamination was pointed out, raising concerns about the impact on the health and living environment of the residents.

Ibaraki Prefecture and Ishioka City took the situation very seriously, and decided to forcibly remove the waste through administrative enforcement. The cost of removal is estimated at about 330 million yen, and the dumpers are being identified and held accountable. To prevent the recurrence of illegal dumping, the prefectural and municipal governments have installed surveillance cameras, strengthened patrols in cooperation with local police and the environmental division, and promoted environmental conservation activities in cooperation with local residents. Despite these measures, residents are concerned about health hazards and the diminishing value of their land, and are calling on the government to take prompt action.

Illegal dumping has been a problem in Ishioka City in the past, with medium-scale dumping incidents occurring in 2005 and 2012, and the city removed the dumped materials. Nationwide, the problem of illegal dumping is serious, and according to statistics from the Ministry of the Environment, illegal dumping nationwide amounts to approximately 1 million tons per year, with particularly large numbers of incidents occurring in Ibaraki, Chiba, and Aichi prefectures. Under these circumstances, Fuji City in Shizuoka Prefecture has succeeded in significantly reducing the number of cases of illegal dumping by utilizing surveillance cameras and a resident reporting system. This case may serve as a reference for countermeasures in Ishioka City.

Illegal dumping mountains" are not merely a matter of illegal activities, but an environmental crisis that affects the future of local communities. Unless the government and residents work together to take immediate action, this problem may become even more serious. The effects of illegal dumping are not limited to mere deterioration of the landscape, but also include groundwater contamination and soil degradation, which in turn have a negative impact on the local economy. The effectiveness of measures to prevent recurrence of this problem is being questioned as the future development of the project attracts attention.

Related Information

According to the Ibaraki Shimbun, the Ibaraki Prefectural Government has reported that it has carried out administrative enforcement against illegal dumping in the Komi-area of Ishioka City and has begun removal work. Fuji News Network (FNN) also covered the issue extensively, reporting that the prefecture is spending approximately 300 million yen to remove the waste. The official announcement from the Ibaraki prefectural government also shows concrete measures against the accumulation of waste plastics, indicating that the government is proactively responding to the problem.

Reference:
- Ibaraki Shimbun: Ibaraki Prefecture has implemented administrative enforcement and started removal work.
- FNN News: Reported as "Illegal Dumping Mountain" and reported the progress of removal work.
- Ibaraki Prefecture official announcement: Administrative action taken against the accumulation of waste plastics.
- Press video: Video footage of the administrative substitute enforcement action on the "industrial waste mountain.