Japan:Radioactive ash found in waste incineration plant

Laaska News  June 27,2011
An operator of waste incineration plants in Tokyo says it has found a high density of radioactive materials in ash at one of its plants.

An Edogawa ward plant, which handles general household garbage, detected 9,740 becquerels of radioactive materials per kilogram of ash.

The ash was collected from a device to filter exhaust fumes.

The plant’s operator, an organization jointly set up by Tokyo’s 23 wards, believes that radioactive cesium built up through the incinerating process.

But it says there is no danger of the toxic substances escaping into the environment as they were trapped by the filter.

Legally, the plant can only bury ash registering 8,000 becquerels or less per kilogram.

But ash contaminated with more than 8,000 becquerels must be stored until the government determines a safe disposal method.

Following the latest findings, Tokyo consulted the central government and decided to temporarily store the contaminated ash inside the plant.

Tokyo on Monday asked the government to come up with guidelines for the ash’s disposal.
NHK.

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