November 26, 2014

Radioactive waste incinerator built in Fukushima

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20141126_27.html

Nov. 26, 2014 - Updated 10:08 UTC+1

A facility to incinerate radioactive debris and other waste is ready to open in a village near the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

The Environment Ministry had been building the temporary incineration facility in the village of Kawauchi since May.

Officials and village delegates marked the completion of the work in a ceremony on Wednesday.

The facility is designed to burn 7 tons of waste per day while removing radioactive cesium.

Ministry officials plan to put the facility into full operation in early January following test runs.

The government lifted an evacuation order for part of Kawauchi last month. But about 1,700 tons of debris and other waste stored in the village remain to be disposed of.

Village Mayor Yuko Endo said some residents are worried about radiation and an unsafe living environment. He said he hopes the incineration facility will help ease their concern.

The Environment Ministry says Kawauchi is the first municipality in Futaba County to have an incineration facility. It says it plans to build similar facilities in other municipalities in the county where Fukushima Daiichi is located.