The History of Illegal Dumping of Medical Waste (Japan) - October 1994 #### 1990s In the early 1990s, Japan faced inadequate management of medical waste, particularly contaminated medical materials with blood, needles, and bodily fluids, which were illegally dumped. Notable cases were reported in areas like the **Tama region of Tokyo** and **mountainous areas in Osaka Prefecture**, where medical waste was discarded in mountains and rivers, raising concerns about environmental pollution and public health. By the mid-1990s, over **100 cases of illegal dumping** were confirmed annually across Japan, driven by unscrupulous companies attempting to avoid the high cost of proper medical waste disposal.

The History of Illegal Dumping of Medical Waste (Japan) - October 1994 #### 1990s In the early 1990s, Japan faced inadequate management of medical waste, particularly contaminated medical materials with blood, needles, and bodily fluids, which were illegally dumped. Notable cases were reported in areas like the **Tama region of Tokyo** and **mountainous areas in Osaka Prefecture**, where medical waste was discarded in mountains and rivers, raising concerns about environmental pollution and public health. By the mid-1990s, over **100 cases of illegal dumping** were confirmed annually across Japan, driven by unscrupulous companies attempting to avoid the high cost of proper medical waste disposal.

In response, the Ministry of Health and Welfare issued the **Infectious Waste Management Guidelines** in 1989, instructing medical institutions to properly dispose of infectious waste. These guidelines recommended **incineration** and **high-temperature disinfection** for waste treatment, while increasing oversight of waste disposal companies. However, illegal activities continued, with some companies still engaging in improper waste disposal practices. In the late 1990s, **Osaka Prefecture (Sakai City)** and **Yokosuka City in Kanagawa Prefecture** saw large quantities of medical waste illegally buried by disposal companies, creating significant social issues.

#### 2000s In the 2000s, the management of medical waste saw significant advancements. Notably, a **barcode tracking system** was introduced, allowing the tracking of medical waste from its generation to its final disposal. This system was first implemented in major metropolitan areas like **Tokyo** and **Kanagawa Prefecture**, where the entire waste treatment process was thoroughly monitored. As a result, reports indicated that by **2005**, incidents of illegal dumping had decreased by **approximately 60%**. On the technical side, **Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal** (now Nippon Steel) developed a medical waste treatment technology that gained significant attention. This technique used the high-temperature furnaces at steel mills to **melt medical waste at over 1200 degrees Celsius**, fully neutralizing it. This method was adopted at large medical waste treatment facilities in **Kitakyushu City** and **Kawasaki City**, enabling efficient and safe waste treatment. This technolog
ical innovation significantly reduced the cost of medical waste disposal, promoting more widespread and appropriate waste management practices.

#### 2010s By the 2010s, environmental awareness had grown, and both medical waste management technology and legal frameworks were further strengthened. In particular, the **2011 Great East Japan Earthquake** brought renewed focus to the proper handling of medical waste during disasters. In affected areas, managing medical waste became a significant challenge, with a shortage of temporary waste treatment facilities. **Fukushima Prefecture** and **Miyagi Prefecture** established temporary storage facilities for medical waste, creating systems for swift recycling and neutralization. Technologically, significant progress was made. For example, **waste incineration technology using renewable energy** gained prominence, and waste treatment facilities in **Yokohama** and **Nagoya** adopted solar-powered incinerators. This technology significantly reduced emissions of **PM2.5** and **dioxins**, achieving reductions of **over 70%**. These facilities also applied the technology to gen
eral waste management, serving as model cases for reducing environmental impact in entire regions. #### 2020s
In the 2020s, the COVID-19 pandemic brought renewed attention to medical waste. Large amounts of infectious waste, including **disposable masks**, **protective clothing**, and **gloves**, were generated, creating new challenges for waste management. In major metropolitan areas like **Tokyo** and **Osaka**, tens of tons of medical waste were produced daily, pushing the limits of disposal capacity.

To address this issue, AI technology and **drones** were introduced to monitor waste management. **Kobe** and **Sapporo** implemented drone surveillance, reducing the risk of illegal dumping. Additionally, recycling technology for disposable masks and protective clothing was developed. In **Kobe**, experimental plants were set up to recycle such waste, with future improvements in recycling rates anticipated.

While technological advancements and strengthened regulations have led to improvements in medical waste management by the 2020s, the management of waste during infectious disease outbreaks like COVID-19 remains a challenge, requiring further technological development and regulatory measures.