Environmental Restoration Efforts and Reconstruction Progress in FukushimaThe 29th UN Climate Change Conference (COP29)
Managed recycling and final disposal
Managed recycling and final disposal
Technologies for reducing waste volume are under development and projects related to managed recycling are being carried out for the final disposal of removed soil and waste arising from decontamination activities outside Fukushima Prefecture.
Basic Concept for the Final Disposal outside Fukushima Prefecture and the Managed Recycling
- The law stipulates that necessary measures need to be taken to complete the final disposal outside Fukushima Prefecture, for removed soil and waste arising from decontamination activities in the Prefecture within 30 years from the start of storage in the ISF (by March 2045).
- Key measure to achieve the final disposal outside Fukushima Prefecture is to reduce the amount to be
disposed of through the managed recycling of removed soil.
In line with the “Technology Development Strategy for Volume Reduction and Recycling of Removed Soil and Waste under Interim Storage” and “Roadmap” developed in 2016, development of volume reduction technology, demonstration projects for the managed recycling and building nationwide understanding have been promoted. - FY2024 is the strategic target, and based on the achievements of initiatives and advices from both of domestic and international experts, the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) has been considering the ministerial ordinances for the managed recycling and the final disposal, as well as the structure and required areas of the final disposal sites.
- In the “Revision of the Basic Policy for Reconstruction following the Great East Japan Earthquake beyond the ‘Second Reconstruction and Creation Period’” approved by the Cabinet on March 19, 2024, it is stated that “the government will work cooperatively to establish a system for the creation of the managed recycling sites by strengthening cooperation among relevant ministries and agencies.”, and that “in order to avoid a blank period after the fiscal year 2024, approach to proceed with initiatives toward the final disposal outside of Fukushima Prefecture from the fiscal year 2025 onward will be represented, based on the results of the consideration made so far.”
Technology Development Strategy for Volume Reduction and Managed Recycling
In promoting volume reduction and managed recycling , specific efforts are being made in accordance with the “Technology Development Strategy for Volume Reduction & Recycling of the Removed Soil and Waste under Interim Storage" and the “Process Chart," which were formulated in 2016 and reviewed in 2019.
Outline of “Technology Development Strategy for Volume Reduction & Recycling of the Removed Soil and Waste under Interim Storage”
Demonstration Projects for the Managed Recycling in Fukushima Prefecture
- In the Specified Reconstruction and Revitalization Base Areas in Iitate Village, whose plan was approved in April 2018, a demonstration project is in progress for the managed recycling of removed soil to be used as embankment after materialization, for agricultural land development, with cover soil on top of the removed soil.
- The project was launched in April 2021 to build large-scale embankment for farmland, with approx. area of 22ha, and paddy and other cultivation demonstration projects began in sequence, from the areas, where the embankment constructions were completed.
- In addition, in order to study the possibility of recycling in road construction, a demonstration project for road embankment was commenced in the premise of the Interim Storage Facility (ISF) in October 2022.
- As a result of the past demonstration projects implemented in Fukushima, safety of the managed recycling of removed soil has been confirmed.
- Based on these results, demonstration projects outside of Fukushima Prefecture are under consideration.
- Based on the findings from the demonstration projects and discussions during the IAEA Experts Meetings, standards for the managed recycling will be developed.
Consideration for the Final Disposal outside Fukushima Prefecture
- Toward the final disposal outside Fukushima Prefecture, demonstration projects have been carried out for volume reduction technology including classification and heat treatment, based on the Technology Development Strategy.
- Achievements of the demonstration projects for volume reduction technologies have been currently compiled for evaluation of the technologies and for consideration of combination of the technologies, also taking account of opinions of experts.
- A ministerial ordinance for the final disposal is also under consideration, based on the expected radioactivity concentrations, etc.
- Based on these studies, several options for the structure and required area of the final disposal site will be provided.
International Assessment and Advice by the IAEA on Measures taken by the MOE Japan to the Managed Recycling and the Final Disposal of Removed Soil
- This meeting was held by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) upon the request of the Ministry of the Environment (MOE), Japan, aiming at providing international assessment and advice from technical and social perspectives, concerning the measures taken by MOE to the managed recycling and the final disposal of removed soil in the future. In total three meetings were held in FY2023. On September 10th, 2024, the IAEA published the final report summarizing the achievements of the meetings.
- Executive Summary of the Final Report states the following conclusions:
- Approach and activities implemented by the MOEJ to date for the managed recycling and the final disposal are consistent with the IAEA Safety Standards.
- Looking ahead, with continuous efforts to meet fully the advice provided by the team of experts, the MOEJ’s evolving approach will be consistent with the IAEA Safety Standards. This can be confirmed by future follow-up assessments.
- Taking account of the advices in the Final Report, the MOE Japan will proceed with consideration of standards for the managed recycling and the final disposal for the removed soil, and also promote initiatives for the final disposal outside Fukushima Prefecture.
(May 2023)
(February 2024)
Disclaimer: "Boxed area" is based on "IAEA assistance to the Ministry of the Environment Japan on 'volume reduction and recycling of removed soil arising from decontamination activities after the Accident of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station' FINAL REPORT ON THE EXPERTS MISSION"
