Eco Green Tochigi Project

INDEX

• The project was launched after illegal dumping was discovered
• Proposing a completely closed, state-of-the-art facility
• Devised Japan's first profit sharing (base unit price) system
• Serves as an environmental learning facility

The project was launched after illegal dumping was discovered

In August 1990, a large amount of industrial wastes was discovered illegally dumped in the Kitazawa district (formerly Bato Town), located in the mountains about 50 km northeast of Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture. Not only were dioxins, lead, and volatile compounds detected that exceeded environmental standards, but contamination of the surrounding soil was also confirmed, and it was revealed that the dumped material, including the contaminated soil, required removal, totaling 51,000 ^m3 (Tochigi Prefecture pamphlet "Results of a Detailed Survey of Illegal Dumping (Summary) February 19, 2001").

The town asked the prefecture to build a prefectural-run, controlled final landfill site in order to remove all of the waste. Tochigi Prefecture already had a stable final landfill site for waste plastics, which are considered stable items, but there was no controlled final landfill site, which required stricter management, so everything was transported to other prefectures for disposal. Finding a way to resolve this situation had been a long-standing issue, so the prefecture decided to build a controlled final landfill site.

However, the construction plan did not progress easily. Several candidate sites were presented, but all were strongly opposed by residents, and although a basic plan was drawn up around 2006, petitions and petitions of opposition were filed, and the town council passed a resolution of opposition, making implementation difficult. Furthermore, after Great East Japan Earthquake in March 2011, concerns grew that radioactive waste might be brought in, and the prefecture's plans for industrial wastes final landfill site were forced to stall.

Proposing a completely closed, state-of-the-art facility

However, we cannot continue to rely on other prefectures for final disposal forever, and we must also hurry up with the disposal of illegally dumped waste in the Kitazawa area. PACIFIC CONSULTANTS participated in the bidding for the basic design work that was held again in 2013, and was successful. There were several candidate locations for the facility, but we narrowed it down to one, and proceeded to draw up a basic design to suit that location. Tokita looks back on it.

"I thought that we could get the consent of all the people of the prefecture that we couldn't be without final landfill site. What was needed was a plan for an eco-friendly, clean disposal site that incorporated thorough environmental measures and safety and security. Therefore, we planned a disposal site with a capacity of 600,000 ^m3 that was completely closed, with a roof to keep out rain and wind, which was unprecedented on Honshu at the time. We also planned for groundwater to be discharged through drainage pipes into an underground water pit without coming into contact with the waste. Furthermore, any leachate that comes into contact with the waste would undergo a total of seven purification processes, including the decomposition of organic matter by microorganisms, and the water would be recycled within the facility, never being released outside the site. This was a disposal site plan that incorporated cutting-edge environmental considerations at the time."

PACIFIC CONSULTANTS' proposal didn't end there. They also planned to thoroughly implement five layers of waterproof sheets, a key environmental measure, far exceeding the national standard of two layers, and to introduce air into the landfill to increase microbial activity and promote the decomposition of organic matter, accelerating stabilization. Meanwhile, PACIFIC CONSULTANTS also participated in the public information sessions hosted by the prefecture from the preparation stage, and their sympathy with the prefecture's desire to "provide explanations in all sincerity" and their reassurance that the plan was an advanced one making use of cutting-edge environmental technology gradually led to increased public understanding and subsequent agreement.

Devised Japan's first profit sharing (base unit price) system

PACIFIC CONSULTANTS considered and proposed the business method at the same time as drawing up the construction plan. They believed that the use of PFI, which utilizes private sector funds and know-how, was essential for facility development, and confirmed the basic direction with the prefecture. However, there had been no precedent for the development of industrial wastes final landfill site using PFI, so they had to consider a detailed business scheme that was in line with the project content.

There are various types of PFI, such as the "service purchase model," in which the PFI operator invests its own funds and know-how to build the facility and the national or local public organizations pays the "service purchase fee," and the "self-sustaining model," in which the PFI operator receives revenue from user fees paid by users for the provision of public services. However, PACIFIC CONSULTANTS believed that it would be difficult to build and operate final landfill site using these traditional methods, so they proposed a new business method called the "profit sharing" method. Sugiura, who was in charge of detailed consideration, looks back on this.

"With general waste, the volume of waste is stable throughout the year, and the costs are paid for through tax revenue at a fixed official rate. However, the treatment and disposal of industrial wastes is a private business, subject to free price competition. If a company comes along offering cheaper treatment, customers can be taken away, and if the economy stagnates, the amount of industrial wastes produced decreases, making the business environment unstable. In addition, in the case of Tochigi Prefecture, we have promised residents that we will only treat industrial wastes produced within the prefecture, so the market size is limited. Under these conditions, I thought that both the service purchase model and the independent asset model would be difficult. If the public sector promised income under the service purchase model, it would impose a heavy burden on the public sector, and the business operator would lose the incentive to aim for increased profits. On the other hand, with the independent accounting model, the market is limited to the prefecture, making it extremely difficult to win the competition."

So they came up with the idea of a "profit sharing" system, whereby some parts would be self-sufficient.

"Based on an independent accounting model, if the business operator made a profit above a set threshold, they would keep that profit as their own and also return a certain percentage to the government. In other words, if there was profit, it would be shared. This allows the private sector to increase profits in line with their business efforts, and since the government can also expect to see increased profits rather than just the private sector benefiting, both parties can work together toward the same goal. I thought this was an effective method for developing final landfill site for industrial wastes."

After the business model was finalized, PACIFIC CONSULTANTS worked with the prefecture to select a business operator. Not only was the project an unprecedented business model, but it was also large-scale and required advanced environmental performance. The company provided numerous explanations to potential participants. As a result, a joint venture consisting of industrial wastes Executive Manager operators, facility designers, construction companies, water treatment plant manufacturers, and local companies began to actively work toward receiving the contract, and it was ultimately decided that the special purpose company "Cleantech Tochigi" would act as the representative company to proceed with the project.

Serves as an environmental learning facility

Construction began in July 2020 on Tochigi Prefecture's first prefecturally managed industrial wastes final landfill site, and after a three-year construction period, it was completed in August 2023. The new facility was named "Eco Green Tochigi" with the hope that it would blend in with the region's rich forests, and began operations the following September. In addition to accepting industrial wastes from within the prefecture, the removal and disposal of illegally dumped material in the Kitazawa district also began in December of the same year, marking a solid step towards resolving a long-standing local issue.

At the same time as the facility began operation, environmental monitoring of groundwater, air, noise, vibrations, odors, etc. was also started, and a safety promotion council made up of residents, academic experts, and government officials is held regularly to report on the results of the monitoring.The facility is also equipped with an environmental learning function where visitors can tour, experience, and conduct experiments, and it also provides a variety of learning opportunities for children and students in the prefecture.

Local government officials from around the country are showing great interest in the facility, and it is said to be the second most visited facility in Tochigi Prefecture to date. Tokita, who played a central role in the project, looks back on it as follows:

"I have over 20 years of experience, including in my previous job, specializing in work on final landfill site. For this job in Tochigi Prefecture, we had to solve a variety of issues, such as how to create a treatment facility that would be welcomed by local residents, despite strong opposition from the residents. PACIFIC CONSULTANTS is not only skilled in planning and designing waste treatment facilities, but also brings together experts in various fields, such Dept., Dept., and Structural Dept., as well as a specialist Dept. for PPPs (PPP), all under one company. I was able to gain a variety of insights into things that I would not have been able to solve on my own, or areas where I would have been left to my own assumptions, and I was able to delegate what I needed to delegate, which I believe allowed us to demonstrate the comprehensive strength that only PACIFIC CONSULTANTS can offer. It was a project that taught me a lot."

Meanwhile, Sugiura, who joined the project in his third year at the company and has been in charge of it for over 10 years, said:

"These past 10 years have been extremely fulfilling. When I first took up my post, it was only my third year, so there were many things I didn't understand, but it was really reassuring to know that there were so many people around me I could consult with, even though we were in different fields. I would like to use the wide range of knowledge I have gained to contribute to solving social issues through waste disposal work both nationwide and overseas."

How to develop final landfill site for industrial wastes is a major issue in the region right now, with a view to ensuring the healthy lives of local residents, fostering industry, preparing for disasters, and achieving carbon neutrality. PACIFIC CONSULTANTS hopes to contribute further to solving this issue with its extensive experience and knowledge.