The problem of aging waste treatment facilities in local cities and its evolution - from 1996 to the 2020s

The problem of aging waste treatment facilities in local cities and its evolution - from 1996 to the 2020s

In 1996, the aging of waste treatment facilities built during the period of economic growth was becoming a problem in local cities. At the time, many of these facilities had exceeded their design life, and the risk of environmental pollution due to reduced processing capacity and leakage was pointed out. For example, facilities that had reached the end of their useful life increased repair costs, putting pressure on the local government's finances. Under these circumstances, attempts were made to renew facilities using the latest technology, but lack of funds and human resources, as well as consensus building with local residents, were issues that hindered progress. In addition, the importance of efficient sorting and improving the recycling rate was also discussed against the backdrop of the increasing waste disposal volume.

Current Situation in the 2000s
In the 2000s, the problem of aging waste treatment facilities became a nationwide issue, and action was taken under the government's Basic Law for Establishing a Recycling-based Society (enacted in 2000). During this period, annual waste generation reached approximately 50 million tons, and incineration facilities were noticeably short of capacity, especially in urban areas. In 2005, Kawasaki City in Kanagawa Prefecture introduced an incinerator equipped with the latest technology and secured an annual processing capacity of 500,000 tons. On the other hand, Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture, faced a shortage of incineration capacity due to delays in upgrading its facilities, and this led to a problem of dependence on neighboring municipalities for waste disposal. In addition, progress was being made in sorting household waste, and the national average recycling rate reached 20%, but regional differences remained significant.

Current Situation in the 2010s
In the 2010s, accidents and environmental problems associated with aging facilities increased, and integration with renewable energy sources progressed. In Tokyo, a state-of-the-art facility with biomass power generation started operation at the Suginami Garbage Disposal Plant in 2014, providing 200 GWh of electricity annually. On the other hand, as a nationwide issue, the amount of waste generated only slightly decreased (about 45 million tons per year), and although the sorted collection rate reached 30%, the lack of demand for recycled materials became an issue. In Hiroshima City, a high-efficiency gasification and melting furnace was introduced in 2018, improving incineration efficiency by 15%. In Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture, treatment costs increased to 13 billion yen per year in the late 2010s due to aging facilities.

Current Status in the 2020s
In the 2020s, aging facilities are becoming more noticeable in Sapporo City, Hokkaido, Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture, and Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture, and facility renewal is an urgent priority. At the Sapporo City Garbage Disposal Plant, operating costs of approximately 12 billion yen per year have become an issue amidst the increasing risk of dioxin emissions. Meanwhile, Niigata City has set a goal of increasing the recycling rate to 50% in cooperation with local companies. Tsukuba City in Ibaraki Prefecture has also developed a sorting education program that has resulted in a 10% increase in the sorting and collection rate.

Technological innovation has also progressed, and in Hiroshima City, a high-efficiency gasification and melting furnace developed by Hitachi Zosen will be installed in 2022, increasing the efficiency of power generation by more than 20% by utilizing the heat energy generated during incineration. Nationwide, there is an urgent need to reduce plastic waste as the amount of waste generated declines to 43 million tons per year. Asahi Group Holdings and Aeon are working to reduce plastic packaging to reduce environmental impact.

Thus, the problem of aging waste disposal facilities in local cities has been ongoing since the 1990s, and the national government, local governments, businesses, and residents have been cooperating to address the problem. However, the issues of financing and building a sustainable waste treatment model still require solutions.