Due to the accident at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, designated waste such as rice straw containing radioactive substances was generated in Tochigi Prefecture, which is the second largest after Fukushima Prefecture, with more than 10,000 tons.
However, the selection of disposal sites by the government has not progressed, and even now, 11 years after the accident, the future remains uncertain.
Of the incinerated ash, sludge, and rice straw that contain radioactive substances generated in the nuclear accident, those with a concentration of radioactive substances exceeding 8,000 becquerels per kilogram are designated as "designated waste" by the national government and are responsible. It is stipulated by law to dispose of it.
In Tochigi prefecture, the second largest amount of 13,000 tons in Japan after Fukushima prefecture was generated, and the concentration decreased over the years, and even now, some of the designations have been lifted, and more than 12,000 tons remain. Approximately 100 farmers in 6 cities and towns still keep some of them, which is a heavy burden.
In 2014, eight years ago, the national government selected the state-owned land in Shioya Town as a candidate site for the disposal site, but due to strong opposition from the local community, discussions remained and the discussions remained tentatively for each local government. We are proceeding with discussions with the city and town by showing the policy of consolidating in.
Under these circumstances, Nasushiobara City, which has the second largest amount of designated waste in the prefecture, about 2,800 tons, was the only one to accept the national proposal and started to consolidate it into the city's waste treatment facility in October last year.
However, other local governments have not started to consolidate due to reasons such as "there is no facility to consolidate and store".
The Tochigi Prefectural Resource Recycling Promotion Division said, "It is desirable for the government to dispose of it as a final disposal, but we want to reduce the burden on farmers as soon as possible. Since each city and town has its own circumstances, we made it in each prefecture and city. We would like to discuss with the working group and realize consolidation as soon as possible. "
Nasushiobara City Started collecting "designated waste" from October last year
Nasushiobara City, Tochigi Prefecture, was the first in the prefecture to accept a national proposal and began collecting designated waste stored by farmers in October last year.
The target is approximately 1200 tons of rice straw and grass that have been stored by 53 farmers in the city, and will be collected and stored at the city's waste disposal facility.
Of the collected waste, those whose radioactive substance concentration is below the national standard and whose "designation" has been lifted are mixed with general waste and incinerated, and then the incinerated ash is disposed of in landfill.
According to the city, as of the 3rd of this month, the total amount of waste collected in the waste treatment facility is about 450 tons, which was stored by 25 farmers, which is close to half of the total.
Kazuo Takase (68), a dairy farmer who stored waste in the pasture and was removed in November last year, said, "I thought it wouldn't be removed for more than 10 years. I'm happy to cultivate the farmland again. It's full. "
Nasushiobara City wants to complete the removal of designated waste from all farmers during this year.
Takahiro Oshima, chief of the Agriculture and Livestock Division of Nasushiobara City, said, "Since the construction of the final disposal site set by the government has not progressed, we have begun to consolidate it as a realistic response. It is a burden for the city, but it can not be helped."