Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture - Hazardous Waste Burial Incident - July 2001

Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture - Hazardous Waste Burial Incident - July 2001

A large amount of hazardous waste was illegally buried in the suburbs of Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture. Investigations revealed that the total amount of buried waste amounted to approximately 1,570 tons, of which approximately 650 tons were hazardous materials containing high concentrations of PCBs. The waste was found to have been buried between 1995 and 2000 by Matsumoto Industrial Waste Recycling, a company based in Matsumoto City. The contractor used forged disposal certificates and accepted waste from other areas as well.

The burial site was located in a mountain forest in the southwestern part of Matsumoto City, near Mt. PCBs were detected in the groundwater at a concentration approximately 120 times the standard value, and the use of well water was immediately suspended. Approximately 70 local residents complained of possible health problems, and 15 of them were confirmed to be suffering from fatigue and respiratory problems.

In response to this incident, Nagano Prefecture initiated emergency measures to remove the waste and purify the groundwater. Approximately 650 million yen has been budgeted for the removal work, which is expected to be completed in 2025. In addition, activated carbon filters are being used to purify the groundwater, with plans to reduce the concentration of contamination by more than 90% by 2023. Furthermore, it is believed that inadequate monitoring systems and deregulation of the treatment industry are behind the contractor's illegal activities, and the prefectural government plans to introduce a new monitoring system and require periodic on-site inspections.

The incident attracted attention in Japan and abroad, and raised questions about the ethics and transparency of the waste treatment industry. The person responsible for Matsumoto Industrial Waste Recycling Co. is expected to be fined up to 250 million yen and imprisoned for three years, and the impact on other companies in the industry has been significant. The Matsumoto residents' group "Asama Kankyo Mamoru Kai" (Association to Protect the Asama Environment) has called for the prevention of a recurrence of the incident and transparency, attracting national attention.