Japan expands use of Fukushima decontamination soil to regional government sites

Japan's Environment Ministry announced that soil removed during Fukushima Daiichi decontamination will be reused at government branch offices in Miyagi and Saitama prefectures, the first applications beyond Tokyo. The soil, already employed at 12 Tokyo locations such as the prime minister's office, will be used for plantings in Sendai's Aoba Ward and flower beds in Saitama's Chuo Ward. Sendai Mayor Kazuko Kori expressed confidence, while Saitama Governor Motohiro Ono and Mayor Hayato Shimizu requested disclosure of monitoring results and resident consent.

Mayors Jun Yoshida of Okuma and Shiro Izawa of Futaba welcomed the effort as progress toward moving the waste out of Fukushima by the 2045 deadline. Environment Minister Hirotaka Ishihara described the expansion as a new step to build regional understanding of safety. The government hopes the reuse program will reduce the amount of soil needing final disposal, which is slated for site selection around 2030 and decision by 2035.