Twenty Years after the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake

—Experiences and Lessons in Waste Disposal for Large-scale Disasters—

Abstract

With the great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake now 20 years behind us, In this paper, I reflect upon methods and attitudes regarding disaster waste management then and now. Additionally, based on my experiences and lessons learned during the support efforts provided following the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake I propose new approaches to dealing with preparedness for treatment of disaster debris in the case of any possible future large-scale disasters.