Final Disposal Outside Fukushima Prefecture and Technology Development Strategy for Volume Reduction & Recycling of the Removed Soil

For achieving final disposal of the soil and waste removed through off-site decontamination work outside Fukushima Prefecture within 30 years from the commencement of interim storage, it is important to increase the amount of removed soil and waste that can be recycled to the extent possible through processing them while fully utilizing volume reduction technology, thereby reducing the total amount for final disposal. Volume reduction technology includes heat treatment and treatment by classifying removed soil and incineration ash into fine grains and sand and pebbles. Regarding volume reduction and recycling of removed soil and waste, efforts have been made steadily to develop technologies, promote recycling, and study the direction for final disposal in line with the “Technology Development Strategy for Volume Reduction & Recycling of the Removed Soil under Interim Storage,” which the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) published in April 2016. In the mid fiscal year of the Strategy (FY2018), MOE comprehensively reviewed the achievement of the interim target and the forecast of technology development and recycling in the future, etc. and revised the Strategy in March 2019. Additionally, MOE published a guide (draft), which compiled technological matters to note in handling recycled soil safely in public works, etc., in March 2019 and updated it in December 2019.

• Included in this reference material on March 31, 2019
• Updated on March 31, 2022