Environmental Restoration Efforts and Reconstruction Progress in FukushimaThe 30th UN Climate Change Conference (COP30)
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. - Fiscal Year 2024 is the target year for the strategy and other goals. Based on the achievements of initiatives to date and advice from domestic and international experts, standards for managed recycling and landfill disposal were established in March of this year. Furthermore, a proposal for the structure and required area of the final disposal site was presented. Based on the progress of these discussions, a plan for advancing efforts from fiscal year 2025 onward was formulated.
- To promote measures such as reducing the volume for final disposal through managed recycling for removed soil and waste and countering reputational damage as a unified government effort, the Council for the Promotion of Managed Recycling for the Realization of Final Disposal of Removed Soil and Waste Outside Fukushima Prefecture was established in December 2024.
Technology Development Strategy for Volume Reduction and Managed Recycling
Approach for Final Disposal Outside Fukushima Prefecture of Removed Soil and Waste from 2025 Onward.
* The dotted line indicates that the process and period may change depending on the final disposal scenario.
* The project in the Nagadoro District of Iitate Village will be continuously monitored, etc., and will be used as a venue for fostering understanding with the cooperation of the local community.
* The implementation of projects to foster understanding will also be considered.
* The use of the site of the Interim Storage Facility, will also be considered.
* The progress of the above initiatives will be followed up by the IAEA and disseminated internationally.
Demonstration Projects for the Managed Recycling in Fukushima Prefecture
- In addition, in order to study the possibility of recycling in road construction, a demonstration project for road embankment has been conducted within the Interim Storage Facility (ISF) since October 2022.
- As a result of the past demonstration projects implemented in Fukushima, the radiation 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 advice from experts both in Japan and abroad, standards for the managed recycling were established in March 2025.
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 has established standards for the managed recycling and the final disposal for the removed soil, and continuously 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"
Progress of the managed recycling efforts
Purpose of the managed recycling
The decontamination efforts following the accident at the TEPCO Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake resulted in the generation of large volumes of soil. This soil is to be disposed of outside Fukushima Prefecture. In order to achieve the final disposal, it is important to reduce the amount of soil to be disposed of, and the key is to promote the use of soil with low radioactivity levels in public works projects (the managed recycling). It is also important to foster understanding of the necessity and safety of the final disposal and the managed recycling.
Therefore, the Prime Minister's Office took the initiative in promoting the managed recycling efforts.
Managed recycling at the Prime Minister's Office
Location: The Prime Minister's Office, front yard
