**Illegal dumping of waste materials uncovered in the Tajima area of Hyogo Prefecture - December 1999**.

**Illegal dumping of waste materials uncovered in the Tajima area of Hyogo Prefecture - December 1999**.

In 1999, a large amount of waste wood and plastic was found to be illegally dumped in a mountain forest in the Tajima region of Hyogo Prefecture. The incident involved a small local construction company, which was allegedly dumping illegally in order to reduce waste disposal costs. As a result of the investigation, it was confirmed that more than 300 tons of waste materials had been dumped, and there were a number of complaints from nearby residents about foul odors and pest damage.

In relation to the incident, a report by Hyogo Prefecture's Environmental Policy Department cited a shortage of disposal sites and rising waste disposal costs as the background to the illegal dumping. In addition, according to statistical data from the Ministry of the Environment, illegal dumping increased nationwide in 1999, and the case in the Tajima area is a typical example. Furthermore, a December 1999 article in the Kobe Shimbun newspaper reported local residents complaining about the seriousness of the damage and the government's plan to remove the waste as soon as possible.

The Tajima area is an important natural environment as a tourist resource, and this incident had a serious impact on the local community. The prefectural government has decided to identify the dumping site, apply penalties to those responsible, and promptly remove the waste and clean up the contaminated soil. The incident also prompted the prefectural government to strengthen the monitoring system and provide guidance to disposal companies nationwide to prevent illegal dumping.

Future actions include the promotion of the development of disposal sites and the strengthening of penalties for operators who do not dispose of waste properly.

**Source**.
- File "65-1999-12-15-53.pdf"
- Hyogo Prefecture Environmental Policy Department Report (1999)
- Kobe Shimbun article (December 1999)
- Ministry of the Environment's Illegal Dumping Statistics Data