Illegal dumping of industrial waste in Hachinohe City, Aomori Prefecture - September 2002 to 2020s
The Hachinohe City, Aomori Prefecture, industrial waste illegal dumping case was uncovered in 2002 and is known as one of the largest environmental crimes in Japan. A local waste disposal company illegally landfilled approximately 300,000 tons of industrial waste in a mountainous area, contaminating the groundwater with toxic substances such as asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), lead, and cadmium. It was revealed that approximately 3,000 listed companies were involved in the incident, and that they had commissioned illegal contractors to reduce the cost of waste disposal. The legal and social responsibilities of the companies were strongly questioned.
After the incident, Aomori Prefecture and the Ministry of the Environment began removing and cleaning up the waste, but the cleanup work has continued into the 2020s, costing more than initially expected. More than 10 billion yen has been invested so far, but more advanced technology and budget are needed to fully treat asbestos and PCBs. In addition, groundwater contamination remains serious, and areas that need to be remediated have been identified.
The health effects on residents are also an issue, with hundreds of health problems reported so far. There are also concerns about the effects of cadmium and lead contamination on crops, and agricultural restrictions and compensation are in place. Compensation claims against the companies involved are ongoing, and major companies are paying for some of the cleanup work.
In the 2020s, a digital management system for waste disposal was introduced, allowing national and local governments to centrally manage information on waste from its source to its final disposal site. This enables early detection of illegal dumping and improper disposal, which greatly contributes to the prevention of recurrence.
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