Draft:Transition of landfill technology in Japan

Transition of landfill technology over the years in Japan

1960’s

High economic expansion in Japan throughout the 1960's contributed to an increase in garbage in urban areas. Common practices, including sea surface disposal and open dumping at landfills, resulted in stink, insects, and water pollution. At this time, incineration technology was also introduced.

1970’s

Waste management laws that were introduced in the 1970s specified that landfill development would get a 25% subsidy. Semi-aerobic landfills became the standard technology. Fly ash was disposed of in landfills because of the introduction of gas emission regulations. Since leachate treatment facilities weren't widely used, water pollution remained a serious issue.

1980’s

Construction methods for landfills were improved, and [leachate] seepage control sheets started to be used in them using synthetic rubber, synthetic resin, and asphalt lining. Leachate treatment methods included biological treatment and physiochemical treatment. The rate of incineration increased to 90%.

1990’s & 2000’s

Combustible garbage was burned at a 100% incineration rate. Double seepage control was required starting in 1998, and the first covered landfill was built. The subsidy program was transformed into a grant program, and "MSW landfill site performance guidelines" were established. In the 2000's, “Planning and design guidelines for landfill site maintenance” were issued, while the proportion of direct landfill waste decreased mainly because of awareness of the 3 R's: recycle, reduce, reuse, and the establishment of recycling centres. Thus, covered-type landfills became quite common due to the reduction in waste. Leachate treatment using reverse osmosis was provided at the landfill.

Current status of waste disposal in landfill in Japan

According to the Ministry of the Environment, the amount of waste going to landfills has decreased by 4.2 percent in 2020 compared to the previous year. This is because the recycling rate is rising and was at 20 percent in 2020.