Lessons Learned in the Rubble - Light and Shadow of Great Earthquake Waste Disposal

Lessons Learned in the Rubble - Light and Shadow of Great Earthquake Waste Disposal

After the Great East Japan Earthquake, disposal of the enormous amount of debris in the affected areas became an urgent issue. Initial response was delayed, and in particular, waste collection and disposal facilities were damaged, making it difficult to secure temporary storage space. Coordination with local contractors was also an issue, and there were occasions when work orders and coordination could not be placed quickly enough. In addition, proper disposal could not be completed in time, and illegal dumping by some contractors increased. Waste was left illegally in mountainous areas and along coastlines, increasing the risk of soil and groundwater contamination. The Ministry of the Environment and local governments strengthened monitoring systems and took measures to prevent illegal dumping. This experience has reaffirmed the need for disaster waste management to speed up initial response, secure temporary storage sites in advance, strengthen cooperation with local contra
ctors, and take thorough measures to prevent illegal dumping. Going forward, the disaster waste disposal system must be strengthened.

Sources
- Ministry of the Environment "Progress Report on Disaster Waste Disposal" (Japanese only)
- National Institute for Environmental Studies "Disaster Waste Information Platform
- Japan Waste Management Association, "Wide-area treatment of post-disaster debris and issues" (Japanese only)