Tag - waste

 
 

WASTE

Residents of Suttsu in Hokkaido attend a briefing session Saturday explaining a recent survey by the Nuclear Waste Management Organization of Japan in relation to building a final disposal site for high-level radioactive waste.
JAPAN / Society
Dec 1, 2024
Locals uneasy after Hokkaido nuclear waste survey results
The Nuclear Waste Management Organization of Japan (NUMO) briefed Suttsu residents on research regarding volcanoes and active tectonic faults near the town.
Plastic production is on track to triple by 2050, and microplastics have been found in air, fresh produce and even human breast milk.
ENVIRONMENT / Sustainability
Dec 1, 2024
Battle over curbing plastic output jeopardizes U.N. treaty hopes
The hoped-for treaty could be the most significant environmental protection deal since the 2015 Paris Agreement.
Environmental activists demonstrate in front of the convention center in Busan, South Korea, where delegates from around the world are seeking to reach a binding treaty against plastic waste.
ENVIRONMENT
Nov 29, 2024
Showdown looms on plastic treaty days before deadline
With just two days of talks left, countries seeking an ambitious treaty urged delegations that "have not moved a centimeter" to make compromises or "get out of the way."
Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings' Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant
JAPAN
Nov 29, 2024
Tepco eyes second test removal of Fukushima nuclear fuel debris
As in the previous test, the operator plans to use a fishing rod-shaped device to remove the debris.
Plastic waste that manicurist Naomi Arimoto collected from the sand at a beach, is pictured at her nail salon in Chigasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, on Oct. 21.
JAPAN
Nov 26, 2024
Japanese manicurist takes on plastic pollution, one nail at a time
Naomi Arimoto carefully sifts beach sand for tiny bits of plastic that she can mold into decorative tips to put on the false nails at her salon.
An employee of Trex stands with bales of used plastic, which the company recycles into decking material.
ENVIRONMENT / Sustainability
Nov 25, 2024
Can the world unite to end the plastic pollution crisis?
The rising toll of plastic in the environment is impossible to ignore.
Sacks of untreated and shredded plastic waste, left unattended, collect at an inoperative recycling site in Asan, South Korea, on Nov. 19.
ENVIRONMENT / Sustainability
Nov 25, 2024
South Korea's mountain of plastic waste shows limits of recycling
Seoul says that it recycles 73% of its plastic waste, but environmentalists say the real number is about 27%.
Akira Yamaguchi (right), president of the Nuclear Waste Management Organization of Japan, hands the results of a survey, the first step to select a final disposal site for high-level radioactive waste from nuclear power plants, to Haruo Kataoka, mayor of Suttsu in Hokkaido, on Friday in the town.
JAPAN
Nov 22, 2024
Nuclear waste body backs further Hokkaido disposal site surveys
The Nuclear Waste Management Organization of Japan has concluded it can move on to a preliminary survey that involves drilling work in Suttsu and Kamoenai.
Employees load a transportation box containing fuel debris into a container at Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant in Okuma, Fukushima Prefecture, on Nov. 7.
JAPAN
Nov 12, 2024
Fukushima nuclear debris arrives at lab after secret journey
The announcement comes after operator Tepco said that a tricky trial debris removal operation using a specially developed extendible device had been completed.
Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako release young marbled flounder and red sea bream into the sea from the port of Beppu, Oita Prefecture, on Sunday.
JAPAN
Nov 11, 2024
Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako attend annual marine convention
The emperor and empress later moved to the city of Beppu and released young marbled flounder and red sea bream into the sea from the port of Beppu.
Debris recovery equipment at Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc.'s Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant is seen during a public demonstration in May in Kobe.
JAPAN
Nov 9, 2024
Nuclear debris from Fukushima reactor weighs 0.7 gram
The collected substance will be analyzed at four facilities for research toward full-scale extraction of nuclear fuel debris.
The Unit 2 reactor at Fukushima No.1 nuclear power plant in Fukushima Prefecture
JAPAN
Nov 7, 2024
Tepco removes nuclear fuel debris from Fukushima disaster site
Radioactive debris was removed from the Unit 2 reactor at the plant and was placed inside a sealed container for transportation.
Interim spent nuclear fuel storage facility in the city of Mutsu, Aomori Prefecture
JAPAN
Nov 7, 2024
Japan's first interim spent fuel storage facility starts operations
The facility is scheduled to take in a total of eight casks by March 2027.
The top of the damaged No.1 reactor building at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant
JAPAN
Nov 2, 2024
Nuclear fuel debris extracted from Fukushima No. 1 reactor
Tepco retrieved a device holding a small amount of fallen debris from the containment vessel of the plant's No. 2 reactor as part of experimental removal work.
FamilyMart has introduced discount stickers with teary-eyed characters and the plea "Please help me" on near-expiration rice balls, sandwiches and bento boxes.
BUSINESS / Companies
Oct 31, 2024
FamilyMart trials sobbing discount stickers to help prevent food waste
The convenience store chain hopes the stickers will tug on customers’ heartstrings and encourage them to purchase items nearing their expiration dates.
A device (top right) for grasping debris inside the containment vessel of the No. 2 reactor at the Fukushima No. 1 plant on Wednesday
JAPAN
Oct 31, 2024
Nuclear fuel debris retrieved at Tepco Fukushima plant
If successful, it will be the first time for nuclear fuel debris to be removed from any of the three reactors at the power plant.
Equipment for removing nuclear fuel debris is shown during a demonstration held in May. Work to remove debris from the No. 2 reactor of the Fukushima No. 1 plant resumed Monday.
JAPAN
Oct 28, 2024
Tepco resumes attempt to remove nuclear fuel debris from Fukushima plant
Its last attempt had to be suspended due to the need to replace two cameras attached to a debris-removal device that malfunctioned.
A metal container holding spent nuclear fuel is loaded onto a trailer for transportation to an interim storage facility in Mutsu, Aomori Prefecture, on Sept. 26.
JAPAN
Oct 27, 2024
Japan struggles to find nuclear waste disposal site
Nuclear plants in Japan without designated waste sites are often criticized for being like "a condominium building without a toilet."
Tanks containing water from the disabled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant at the facility in Okuma, Fukushima Prefecture, in March of last year.
JAPAN
Oct 25, 2024
Japan to resume trial removal of Fukushima nuclear debris, reports say
Extracting the estimated 880 tons of highly radioactive fuel and debris inside the former power station remains the most challenging part of decommissioning the facility.
Draft guidelines on take-home bags drawn up by the health ministry aim to change the behavior of both customers and restaurants, and reduce food waste.
JAPAN
Oct 18, 2024
Health ministry drafts to-go bag guidelines to cut down on food waste
Draft guidelines on take-home bags drawn up by the health ministry aim to change the behavior of both customers and restaurants, and reduce food waste.

Longform

Visitors walk past Sou Fujimoto's Grand Ring, which has been recognized as the largest wooden structure in the world.
Can a World Expo still matter? Japan is about to find out.