Garbage problem

Garbage may be a problem not only in Japan but in the world, but in reality the number of incinerators in Japan is the world's number. Dioxin generated from the incinerator became a big problem.

The number of incinerators in Japan is the best in the world

The number of incinerators in Japan is the world's number, 1221 (2010). There were two thirds of the incinerators in the world at one time. There are reasons unique to Japan to have such an incinerator. That means "the country is narrow". In the widely populated countries such as the United States, garbage is buried as it is, but since Japan has few land to bury, it burnts it after burnt ash. Incidentally, the number of incinerators in the USA is about 150 units.

Dioxin problem

Originally, dioxin is a substance slightly present naturally, it is generated mainly by burning things in an incinerator etc, but it also occurs from automobile exhaust gas, tobacco smoke, wildfire etc.

出典：環境省ホームページ「（別添）廃棄物処理施設からのダイオキシン類排出量の推移」(http://www.env.go.jp/press/files/jp/26638.pdf)より「廃棄物処理施設からのダイオキシン類排出量の推移」のグラフを加工し、利用しました。なお、英訳は当サイト側が行ったものです。
Source: Ministry of the Environment website "Transfer of dioxin emissions from waste disposal facility (Attachment)" (http://www.env.go.jp/press/files/jp/26638.pdf) "Changes in dioxin emissions from waste disposal facilities "was processed and used. English translation was done by this site.

As you can see from the graph, dioxin has beenreduced byabout 98% compared to 1997.

Dioxin is sometimes said to be carcinogenic, but it is said that it is rare to cause cancer due to dioxin in the current Japanese environment.
At the moment it is not well understood at the moment what kind of influence is given to a person who took a large amount of dioxin due to an accident or the like.

 

Initiatives in Japan

There are 1221 incinerators in Japan. There were 1715 in 2000, but I surely reduce the number. Also, as there is charge for garbage etc., the amount of garbage itself has been reduced by less than 10 million tons compared with 2000.

出典：環境省ホームページ「一般廃棄物処理事業実態調査の結果（平成26年度）について」(http://www.env.go.jp/press/files/jp/29245.pdf)より「生活系ごみと事業系ごみの排出量の推移」のグラフを加工し、利用しました。なお、英訳は当サイト側が行ったものです。
Source: Ministry of the Environment website "About the result of actual survey on general waste disposal business (FY2004)" (http://www.env.go.jp/press/files/jp/29245.pdf) From " Change in emissions of household garbage and business garbage "was processed and used. English translation was done by this site.

Living garbage is characterized by more points than business garbage.
The recycling rate is also increasing. It seems that it is worthwhile to raise awareness of consumers' waste.

What can we do?

The Ministry of the Environment recommends what is called "3R".
1.Reduce (Reduce) Use carefully and reduce garbage.
2.Reuse (reuse) Use what can be used repeatedly.
3.Recycle (recycle) It is used again as a resource.

As also shown in the graph above, household garbage (garbage etc.) is the most popular. It may be a big contribution to work small by one, such as reducing useless leaves.

 

Worksheet

The example of the written is here.(PDF)

POINT AND OPINION

POINT

  • Japan's garbage problem is more serious than other developed countries.
  • It is said that the amount of dioxin under the current Japanese environment is no problem for health.
  • What can we do about it?

OUR OPINION

Garbage problem deeply concerned to us. It is not an overstatement to say that we are directly getting worse. Conversely, if we do our best we can make a big contribution to the garbage problem improvement.
In addition, it seems that incinerators are also used for warming the water in the heated pool. I think that we can also promote the use of incinerators for other things.