The Dark Side of Industrial Waste Illegal Dumping in Tohoku – September 20, 2002

The Dark Side of Industrial Waste Illegal Dumping in Tohoku – September 20, 2002

The industrial waste illegal dumping incident discovered in the Tohoku region goes beyond a mere environmental issue, hiding a deep-rooted dark side. This incident involved around 3,000 companies, including large and listed companies, which were found to be conducting illegal waste disposal. The dumped waste included asbestos, PCB (polychlorinated biphenyl), lead, cadmium, and other hazardous substances, with severe environmental damage caused.

Corruption between Waste Disposal Contractors and Companies
The root cause lies in the illegal collusion between waste disposal contractors and companies. Waste disposal incurs high costs, and some companies conspired with fraudulent contractors to reduce costs by illegally dumping waste. In the waste disposal industry, some corrupt operators illegally disposed of waste in forests and rivers, leading to contamination of living environments, farmland, and even groundwater.

Opaque Structure of the Industrial Waste Industry
The industrial waste industry consists of many small-scale operators, with inadequate oversight allowing illegal activities to persist. The disposal process itself is complex, and often, the relationship between companies and contractors remains unclear. Some contractors have been found to falsify disposal certificates, pretending to legally process the waste while illegally dumping it.

Economic Pressure Behind the Incident
The economic recession following the bubble collapse contributed to the increase in illegal dumping. Companies were forced to cut costs, and expensive waste disposal fees were targeted. As a result, companies turned to illegal means to save costs. Moreover, companies that outsourced waste disposal often failed to verify whether proper disposal was being conducted, leading to widespread illegal activities.

Corporate Evasion of Responsibility
What stands out in this incident is the corporate evasion of responsibility. Particularly in the construction and manufacturing sectors, many companies failed to audit their external contractors properly, ultimately aiding illegal dumping. Some companies, despite advocating for environmental protection, were found to be involved in illegal practices, raising serious ethical concerns.

Damage to Local Residents
The illegal dumping also affected local residents. In Misawa City, Aomori, and Noshiro City, Akita, groundwater pollution caused by industrial waste has become a serious issue, raising concerns about public health. Especially in areas where cadmium and lead have infiltrated groundwater, the contamination of agricultural water and drinking water has become a significant problem. The risk of health damage and crop contamination has heightened the sense of crisis in the region.

Legal System Inadequacies and Future Challenges
In response to this incident, the Ministry of the Environment is considering strengthening the Waste Disposal Act, but there remain concerns about the inadequate monitoring system. Under the current legal framework, it is difficult to detect illegal activities in advance, and it often takes time for the crimes to come to light. Going forward, there is a need to enhance monitoring systems and introduce GPS tracking to improve transparency, but it will require a long-term effort to address the opaque structure of the industry.

This incident has revealed significant challenges in Japan's overall industrial waste management system. The dark side of illegal dumping is deep, involving collusion between companies and contractors, legal inadequacies, and economic pressure. This is a serious problem from an environmental protection standpoint.