Illegal dumping of waste tires in a Tokyo suburb - December 1997

Illegal dumping of waste tires in a Tokyo suburb - December 1997

In December 1997, approximately 300,000 waste tires were illegally dumped in a suburb of Hachioji City, Tokyo, and about 30,000 of them spontaneously ignited, causing a large-scale fire. The black smoke from the fire contained carbon dioxide, dioxins, and other toxic substances, raising concerns about air pollution and health hazards. The dumping was caused by improper disposal by a local contractor, and the government invested approximately 60 million yen to recover and properly dispose of the tires. Some of the tires were recycled and the rest were incinerated. In response to this incident, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government strengthened audits of waste disposal companies, installed surveillance cameras, and introduced a tire recycling promotion system. The incident served as a reminder of the seriousness of the waste disposal problem.