Estimation of Releases Outside Notification from Municipal Solid Waste Disposal Facilities

Abstract

Under the legalities of the Japanese PRTR system, only a small part of the chemical substances released from waste disposal facilities is being reported. In an effort to change this, over the past several years, the government has been making efforts to estimate such releases. As a result, it was decided that the amounts being released should be estimated and publicly published as a first step in putting limits on municipal waste disposal facilities (incineration). Estimates revealed 17 chemical substances, including lead, nickel, acetaldehyde, etc., and the estimated amounts for 2011 fiscal year were approximately 160 tons mainly being released into the air. However, since reliability questions for these estimates still remain it is necessary to continue data gathering and reviews. It is also desirable that industrial waste disposal facilities be added to the release sources through collection of reliable measured data and estimation of released amounts.