Japanese Waste Management Association Establishes Task Team on Disaster Waste Management and Reconstruction

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The Japan Society of Material Cycles and Waste Management (JSMCWM) established on March 18, 201, a "task team on disaster waste management and reconstruction" within JSMCWM. More than 100 researchers from universities, research institutes and industry have joined this project led by Shinichi Sakai, the president of JSMCWM and a professor at Kyoto University.

The March 11 earthquake and tsunami produced a tremendous amount of solid waste and debris from destroyed buildings, which has emerged as a major concern because of its enormous volume, since the initial response to these disasters. An appropriate and prompt disposal of the debris is imperative to recover and reconstruct the affected areas. Also, there are growing concerns over the potential damage caused by tsunamis, which may follow large earthquakes predicted in the future.

To cope with these issues, JSMCWM set up the task team to document and research the disaster debris while giving support to the affected areas, with the aim of putting together data in an academic and systematic manner. The current issues the team is tackling are: setting up an information platform and networks with affected areas, documenting the generation, collection and disposal of disaster debris, and identifying further research challenges.

On the website serving as the information platform, the team has disclosed observations and information reports, specific strategy manuals for waste separation and disposal, and the results of chemical analyses of the tsunami sediment that accumulated as a result of the earthquake and tsunami.

Posted: 2011/07/17 06:00:15 AM