Japan to reuse Fukushima decontamination soil in regional cities

The Japanese government has announced plans to expand the reuse of soil collected during decontamination efforts following the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear meltdown. This initiative marks the first time such soil will be utilized in regional cities outside of Tokyo, excluding specific demonstration projects within Fukushima Prefecture.

Under the new plan, the soil will be used for landscaping and flowerbeds at government branch offices in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, and Saitama City. This follows a period of testing in Tokyo, where the soil has been used at the Prime Minister’s Office and 12 other central government buildings since July of last year.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara stated that soil reuse is essential to meeting the government’s goal of completing final disposal of the material outside of Fukushima by March 2045. Currently, approximately 14.46 million cubic meters of soil and other waste are held in interim storage facilities near the plant. The government aims to recycle roughly 75 percent of the soil, which contains relatively low levels of radiation, for use in various public works projects.