Disaster Waste in Rain-Hit Areas Totals 2.9 M. Tons

Tokyo, Aug. 7 (Jiji Press)--The amount of disaster waste generated in the western Japan prefectures of Okayama, Hiroshima and Ehime due to the torrential rains last month totals 2.9 million tons, Environment Minister Masaharu Nakagawa said Tuesday. "We expect that the waste will be removed from local temporary disposal sites (such as school playgrounds) within August," he told a news conference. The figure was calculated by the ministry based on estimates released by each prefecture. The amount almost equals the total of 3.03 million tons generated in the 2016 earthquakes in and near Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan. Hiroshima recorded the largest volume with 1.96 million tons, followed by Ehime with 530,000 tons and Okayama with 410,000 tons. Nakamura declined to say when the entire disposal process will finish, only saying, "The amount is enormous, and it takes time to sort the waste." END