### "Questioning the Incinerator Administration--What Remains of a Plan without Residents"--1994

### "Questioning the Incinerator Administration--What Remains of a Plan without Residents"--1994

In Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture, a plan to build a new waste incinerator jointly with the neighboring city of Shiojiri had been in the works, but was stalled due to strong opposition from local residents. The core of the problem lies in the fact that "the plan was carried out unilaterally, ignoring the voices of the local residents. An old incineration plant was already in operation at the site, causing environmental pollution, foul odors, noise, and other problems. The plan to build a new incineration facility under such circumstances was seen by the local residents as "placing a double burden on the environment.

In particular, dioxins were reportedly detected in the flue gas emitted from the old facility's stacks, and local farmers voiced concern about the impact on their vegetables and soil. The impact on the ecosystem was also serious, and there were concerns about contamination from airborne dispersion into nearby rice paddies and mountain forests. Although the administration claimed that the new facility was equipped with the latest filters and would have minimal impact on the environment, their words did not reach the residents.

The plan was budgeted without a briefing session for residents, and the government also proceeded with aggressive land expropriation procedures. These administrative methods undermined the trust of the local community and, as a result, highlighted the structural problem of "the division between urban and rural areas over waste disposal. This case shows that environmental destruction is not only physical damage, but also social destruction, including the "breakdown of trust" between residents and the government.