In response to the unprecedented situation concerning radioactive pollution resulting from the accident at TEPCO′s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, the Act on Special Measures Concerning the Handling of Radioactive Pollution was enacted in August 2011. With the “Basic Principles” and related orders for handling radioactive pollution established by the end of that year, the Act came into full force on January 1, 2012. Thus, a new policy framework for off-site disposal of wastes contaminated by radioactive materials and their decontamination had been established and steadily implemented under the responsibility of the national government.
This article provides an overview of the measures and initiatives undertaken by the government of Japan for off-site disposal of wastes contaminated by radioactive materials toward recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake, as well as the situation at TEPCO′s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant before and after the Act was fully enforced.

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Establishment of analytical methods for radioactively contaminated wastes has been urgently requested for proper management during various treatment processes such as storage, incineration, landfill and wastewater treatment. Japan Society of Material Cycles and Waste Management (JSMCWM) has been working on the development and evaluation of standardized or rapid/cost-effective methods for the measurement of radioacitivity (i.e., radioacitivity concentration and dose rate) in wastes since 2011. JSMCWM′s work covers a wide variety of waste issues : (1) analytical instruments for measuring dose rate and radioactivity concentrations in wasted were broadly reviewed ; (2) standardization of sampling methods for incineration flue gas were optimized ; (3) optimal number of increment samples for one lot of incineration ash (i.e., bottom ash and fly ash) was investigated ; (4) cross calibration study was conducted for radioactive cesium activity in soil and incineration ash samples using Ge semiconductor detector, NaI (TI) scintillation detector and LaBr₃ (Ce) scintillation detector (totally six participants). This achieved good accuracy and precision results. The obtained findings for the above have actually been reflected in the revision of the National Guidelines for Analytical Methods for Radioactively Contaminated Wastes in March, 2013.

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The Radioactivity Concentration Measurement Guidelines established the measurement methods for radioactivity concentration and air dose rate in order to deal with environmental pollution from the radioactive materials released in the nuclear power plant accident that occurred as a result of the Tohoku-Pacific Ocean earthquake on March 11, 2011. Air dose rate is measured by scintillation-type survey meter which can measure gamma-rays ; and radioactivity concentration is measured using germanium semiconductor detector, NaI (Tl) scintillation spectrometer or the LaBr₃ (Ce) scintillation spectrometer. The Guidelines were created in order to understand these measurement methods and perform them with the highest precision. If new findings that require revisions are revealed in the future, the Guidelines will be revised accordingly.

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Huge amounts of sewage sludge and incineration ash, highly contaminated with radioactive materials, were generated in eastern Japan following the March 2011 accident at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station. In order to smoothly dispose of such contaminating radioactive wastes, while at the same time avoid radioactive exposure to workers at waste treatment facilities, it is necessary to apply the appropriate waste methods and measures for protection according to radioactivity levels in the wastes and the air dose rates in the waste treatment facilities. To specify measurement methods for radioactivity levels in wastes and related samples, the Manual for Surveillance and Measurement of Radioactive Materials in Wastes and Related Materials was published at the end of 2011. This paper covers how the manual came into being along with an overview of its contents and comparison points between the Manual and another publication titled Guidelines for Disposal of Wastes Contaminated with Radioactive Materials. The paper also explains certain aspects for revising the Manual.

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This paper discusses measurement methods for radioactive substances in the flue gas of incinerators that handle general wastes, such as municipal solid waste and sewage sludge, which were contaminated from radioactive substances released in the nuclear meltdowns and explosions at Fukushima No.1 nuclear power plant. Two approaches were taken : a measurement method for metals and dioxins in municipal solid waste incinerators, etc. (JIS K 0083 and JIS K 0311) and a measurement method based on the Guide for Measurements of Released Radioactive Materials From Light Water Nuclear Power Reactor Facilities (JIS Z 4601 and JIS Z 4336). This paper compares three methods, including the aforementioned two approaches, along with a sampling method based on dust particle size at a municipal solid waste incinerator. In all methods, the radioactive cesium levels in the flue gas at stack were below the detection limit. The former measurement method has been accepted as a guideline for measuring radioactive concentration, etc. and is considered to be reasonable as a practical method for understanding the behavior of radioactive cesium in incinerators of waste that has been lightly contaminated with radioactive cesium. As for incineration off-site wastes that are heavily contaminated with radioactive cesium, different monitoring and flue gas treatment systems will be considered.

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Full-scale decontamination operations aimed at radioactive material from the March 2011 accident at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, operated by Tokyo Electric Power Company, have started. Enormous amounts of contaminated soil and wastes, which are being generated as a result of performing decontamination operations, will be put into storage. The security and performance design of these storage areas, i.e. developing temporary or intermediate storage facilities, are urgent issues. Existence forms and leaching characteristics of the radioactive cesium being discharged from the soil and plants greatly influences the type of storage and management required. Understanding of existence forms and levels of radioactive cesiumin the environmental water following the Fukushima accident are extremely important if one is to fully study the long-term environmental impact of storage and management systems. This paper presents the latest findings on the leaching characteristicsand existence forms of radioactive cesiumin soil and plants. In addition, the paper outlines the existence forms and levelsof radioactive cesiumin environmental water, along with monitoringof low-level radioactive cesium found in water.

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Diffusion of radioactive Cesium to soil and groundwater is one very crucial course by which wastes containing radioactive Cesium affect the health of humans. Leaching tests were applied to wastes containing radioactive Cesium and information was accumulated. This paper summarizes the leaching property of radioactive Cesium from waste and other source, based on the results of various leaching tests that have been conducted by the authors up until now.

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This report focuses mainly on quality assurance and quality control for measuring radioactivity in radioactive cesium in the waste treatment process.
In quality assurance and control, it is important for appropriate methods to be determined : the laboratory must be prepared for testing according to appropriate methods and testing quality must be consistently secured. It is therefore necessary to standardize the process by establishing standard operating procedures, conducting facility maintenance management and using correct calibrations to perform maintenance on instruments while ensuring competent personnel and establishing rules on how to troubleshoot when nonconforming work is designated. We can evaluate whether tests are appropriate or not by known concentration sample analysis, regular use of certified reference materials, and participation in inter-laboratory comparison or proficiency-testing programs. In addition, the above makes it possible to conduct quality assurance and quality control in a more rational manner when investigating uncertain factors. Also, although just briefly mentioned it is important to keep in mind measurements for air dose rates and surface contamination.

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This article discusses the issues and prospective paths forward regarding transboundary movements and the environmentally sound management of hazardous wastes based on international negotiations for the Basel Convention. For the first several years, since the entry into force, the majority of the Parties to the Basel Convention considered strict control and a ban on transboundary movements of these wastes to be the best options for preventing adverse effects on human health and the environment. The COPs that were held in the 2000′s adapted the declarations and ministerial statements to indicate the importance of implementing the environmentally sound management through the enforcement of Convention principles. Meanwhile, transboundary movements of hazardous wastes, particularly E-waste, were increased for the purpose of recycling at the regional level. This indicated that transboundary movements of E-waste made a contribution as a practical action for recovering resources from E-waste. Thus, some countries became aware of the importance of transboundary movements for the environmentally sound management of E-waste, in particular E-waste recycling. This movement indicates a “paradigm shift from waste to resources.” Based on such a paradigm shift, this article also discusses possible solutions for the environmentally sound management of hazardous wastes controls and promotion of transboundary movements of those wastes.

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The intergovernmental negotiating committee to prepare a global legally binding instrument on mercury (INC) began negotiations in 2010. In January 2013, the INC agreed on the text set forth in the “Minamata Convention on Mercury”. The Convention aims to control mercury throughout its full lifecycle : from supply and use to emission/release and waste disposal, with regard to the global environment. The text will be presented for adoption and opened for signature at the Conference of Plenipotentiaries (Diplomatic Conference), scheduled to take place in Kumamoto and Minamata, Japan in October 2013. As a country that has experienced Minamata Diseases, Japan has been participating in the INC process proactively for the successful outcome of these negotiations. At present, Japan is forcasting on the measures for the implementation of the Convention in the hope of its early ratification. Japan is also assisting developing countries in their capacity development activities with the aim of entering into force of the Convention as early as possible. In addition, Japan also continues to participate in the UNEP Global Mercury Partnership which is expected to compliment the implementation of the Mercury Convention, especially in the area of waste management partnership.

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