Japan Fukushima decontamination soil reuse program

The Japanese government has announced plans to expand the reuse of soil collected during decontamination efforts following the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident. While previous testing occurred in Tokyo at the Prime Minister’s Office and other central government buildings, the new initiative will utilize the soil in regional cities outside of Tokyo, specifically for landscaping and flowerbeds at government branch offices in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, and Saitama City.

The Ministry of the Environment stated that the soil has radioactivity levels below standard values. To mitigate risks of particle scattering or runoff from wind and rain, the soil is covered with additional earth to provide more than 90 percent radiation shielding.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara noted that soil reuse is essential to achieving 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 waste are held in interim storage facilities. The government aims to recycle roughly 75 percent of the soil, which contains relatively low radiation levels, to reduce the ongoing burden on Fukushima residents.