Illegal waste disposal in Hamburg is increasing significantly, with tonnage rising by 60% and reports by nearly 90% since 2020. Costs for the city have also surged, while fines collected remain relatively low. The Left Party calls for social justice in waste management.
Gyeongbuk Province is emerging as a nuclear energy hub with 13 operating reactors and plans for 4 more, including 2 new large-scale reactors in Yeongdeok. The province hosts KHNP headquarters and a radioactive waste disposal site, aiming to leverage stable power for industries like steel and data centers, while advocating for differentiated electricity rates.
Environmental Police in Paty do Alferes, Brazil, are investigating an illegal waste disposal site covering approximately 1,000 square meters. Construction debris and tree waste were found dumped without authorization.
Japan has restarted its largest nuclear power plant amid an energy crisis, but faces a critical shortage of space for spent nuclear fuel. The country lacks a viable plan for permanent disposal, with a remote island being considered, sparking skepticism and concerns.
Tondabayashi City, Osaka Prefecture, announced on the 2nd that 16 employees of "Hannan Seisou," a contractor for waste collection, were caught stealing items like frying pans and electrical wiring from bulky waste. The employees took the items for personal use, and the city has suspended the company from bidding for two months.
Japan's plan for high-level radioactive waste disposal is stalled due to the "Not In My Backyard" (NIMBY) issue. Unlike Finland and Sweden, where disposal plans were mandated for nuclear plant permits, Japan prioritized nuclear fuel recycling, weakening the incentive to address final disposal early. Current laws treat spent nuclear fuel as an asset, not waste, and the legal framework is geared towards promoting nuclear power.
A professor discusses Japan's stalled nuclear waste disposal plan, highlighting the "separation of beneficiary and suffering zones" issue where one region bears the burden while the nation benefits from nuclear power. He suggests overlapping these zones for fairness.
