Illegal dumping of industrial waste on farmland, Tokachi District, Hokkaido, Japan - November 2024

Illegal dumping of industrial waste on farmland, Tokachi District, Hokkaido, Japan - November 2024

In November 2024, illegal dumping of industrial waste by a company was discovered on farmland along the Tokachi River in the Tokachi region of Hokkaido. In this incident, approximately 1,000 tons of waste was landfilled on the farmland, which contained toxic heavy metals such as lead and arsenic. The waste also permeated into groundwater, raising concerns about its impact on drinking water and agricultural water sources used by nearby residents. In particular, the risk of chronic health problems for nearby farmers is an issue, and the Environment Agency plans to conduct a health survey, including testing for blood lead levels. The Hokkaido Government and the Environment Agency have fined the companies involved in the illegal dumping tens of millions of yen and are demanding that the contaminated soil be removed and properly disposed of. In addition, the company plans to continue monitoring underground water and take immediate action when standard values are exceeded.