An Uncontainable Threat: The Case of Illegal Dumping of Medical Waste
Illegal dumping of medical waste has become a problem in the 2020s: in 2024, a waste disposal company was found to have left infectious waste such as placenta and blood for a long period of time without properly disposing of it and under false reports. Also in 2022, an industrial waste collector and transporter illegally dumped industrial waste into a mountain forest without a permit. As the volume of medical waste increases due to the spread of new coronavirus infection and the need for proper management, improper disposal increases the risk of infection spread and environmental contamination. Illegal dumping is severely punished under the Waste Disposal and Public Cleansing Law and can result in imprisonment for up to five years or a fine of up to 10 million yen. Medical institutions and disposal companies are required to select reliable disposal companies and establish appropriate management systems.
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