Japan mulls reusing soil from crippled nuclear plant at government offices: Report

Japan is considering reusing soil removed from areas near the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant at government offices in Tokyo, including the prime minister's office, Kyodo News reported on Thursday, citing an undisclosed government source.

The initiative seeks to set an example for recycling irradiated soil outside of Fukushima Prefecture, after demonstration projects in Tokyo and its surrounding areas were halted due to local opposition.

The recycled soil would likely be used for purposes such as flowerbeds and landscaping at central government buildings in Tokyo, the report said.

Japan's Environment Ministry has maintained that the safety of the process has been confirmed through demonstration projects launched in Fukushima Prefecture in 2017.

The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster was triggered by a massive earthquake and tsunami in March 2011, which caused fuel meltdowns in three reactors and released radioactive materials into the surrounding environment.

Since then, roughly 14 million cubic meters of excavated soil and other contaminated waste have been stored at an interim facility near the nuclear complex.

To reduce the amount of soil that must be permanently managed, the Japanese government plans to recycle soil with relatively low levels of radioactivity for public works projects, such as road embankments.