Illegal Dumping of Construction Waste in Miyazaki Prefecture - Illegal Disposal Undermining the Community - January 2007

Illegal Dumping of Construction Waste in Miyazaki Prefecture - Illegal Disposal Undermining the Community - January 2007

In 2007, illegal dumping of construction waste materials was uncovered in Miyazaki Prefecture, creating a major problem. In this case, it was revealed that a waste disposal company was transporting large quantities of construction waste from neighboring prefectures and illegally dumping it in mountainous areas and unused land in Miyazaki Prefecture. The dumped waste materials included lumber, concrete pieces, asphalt fragments, etc., totaling approximately 300 tons.

The investigation revealed that the waste materials were not properly disposed of, and there were concerns about the environmental impact of the waste materials. In particular, it was pointed out that toxic substances leaked from the waste material could contaminate soil and groundwater. This raised concerns about the health risks to nearby residents and the impact on agricultural water supply, and the local government took immediate action to address the situation.

The contractor involved in this illegal dumping was arrested for violating the Waste Disposal and Public Cleansing Law, and an improvement order was issued by the government. Miyazaki Prefecture partially covered the cost of removing the waste materials and strengthened its monitoring system to prevent recurrence. In addition, the Ministry of the Environment's "Waste Proper Treatment Promotion Project" was utilized to introduce a monitoring system for the disposal of waste materials.

Furthermore, the incident stimulated environmental conservation activities by local residents and strengthened efforts to curb illegal dumping. The removal of the waste materials took about six months, and the need for proper management of the waste generation process was once again emphasized.

This incident will be remembered as a case that demonstrated the importance of further tightening the Waste Disposal and Public Cleansing Law and the monitoring system by the local government and local residents.

Sources
1. Ministry of the Environment, "Waste Disposal and Public Cleansing Law" and "Waste Proper Treatment Promotion Project" related materials (2007)
2. "Report on Illegal Dumping (2007)," Environmental Policy Division, Miyazaki Prefecture
3. report by the National Network for Waste Management (circa 2007)
4. press article in the Miyazaki Nichinichi Shimbun (January 2007)