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### History of the PCB Waste Disposal Project in the Hibikinada District of Kitakyushu City **Project Initiation (2001–2004)** In November 2001, the Environmental Services Agency (now the Environmental Restoration and Conservation Agency) planned a PCB (polychlorinated biphenyl) waste disposal project in the Hibikinada district of Kitakyushu City and received approval from the Ministry of the Environment. PCBs are hazardous substances used in transformers and capacitors, posing long-term environmental contamination risks. This project employed pretreatment technologies combining solvent washing and vacuum thermal decomposition, along with dechlorination decomposition technology for liquid treatment. The facility began operations in 2004, with a plan to complete processing within 12 years.

**Initial Results (2004–2010)** The facility commenced operations as planned, processing PCB waste transported from Kyushu and Kansai. During this period, the Kyushu facility was recognized as a model case meeting safety standards and became a national hub for PCB treatment.

**Extension of Processing Deadline (2010–2024)** Originally scheduled for completion by the end of fiscal year 2014, the processing deadline was extended twice to accommodate newly discovered PCB waste and additional waste identified through excavation surveys. By the end of March 2019, approximately 62,000 transformers and capacitors—the first planned processing targets nationwide—were completed. In 2021, responding to a national request, Kitakyushu City decided to continue the processing operations. **Operations Termination and Demolition (2024 Onward)**
On March 31, 2024, the JESCO Kitakyushu Plant ceased operations. The total volume of PCB waste processed reached approximately 10,000 tons, earning recognition as a successful PCB waste treatment case both domestically and internationally. Since then, facility dismantling and removal work has been underway, with completion scheduled for around fiscal year 2029. Following removal, soil contamination surveys and safety confirmation are planned.

**Treatment of Low-Concentration PCB Waste (Ongoing)** Treatment of low-concentration PCB waste is being handled by 31 certified contractors nationwide, with processing also underway in Tobata Ward, Kitakyushu City. This treatment is scheduled for completion by the end of fiscal year 2026. However, the volume of untreated items, such as transformers contaminated during manufacturing, remains substantial. Continued awareness and effort are necessary to achieve full completion.

**Contribution to Environmental Conservation** For over 20 years, the PCB treatment project in the Hibikinada area of Kitakyushu City has played a vital role in environmental conservation within Japan. This project has not only achieved safe and reliable waste disposal through collaboration with local residents and businesses but also contributed to reducing future environmental risks.