Disposal waste starts in Fukushima

November 17, 2017

Disposal of radioactive waste begins in Fukushima

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20171117_27/

The first batch of radioactive waste from the 2011 nuclear accident has arrived at a final disposal site in Fukushima Prefecture.

Containers filled with radioactive ash were delivered by trucks to the facility in Tomioka Town on Friday and placed on the site with cranes. The ash consists of incinerated debris and other waste produced near the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.

The disposal site accepts waste with radioactive concentrations of between 8,000 and 100,000 becquerels per kilogram.

The Environment Ministry plans to place the ash in special containers or pack them in cement. It will monitor groundwater and nearby rivers for possible contamination.

The facility in Fukushima is the only place where final disposal of contaminated materials is possible.

Persistent local opposition has prevented other prefectures from designating their dump sites.

A ministry official says the ministry will continue efforts to seek residents' understanding for the project.