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Waste Management in Tokyo, Japan

Research · February 2016

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.2795.2408

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Waste Management in Tokyo, Japan
Ayush Parajuli*,a
a Departmentof Mechanical Engineering, Pulchowk Campus, Tribhuwan University, P.O.44700 , Lalitpur, Nepal
* Correspondencer: parajuliyush@gmail.com ;Tel: (+977)9845402535

ABSTRACT
This article is an outcome of visit to Ariake Incineration Plant, Tokyo under program
JENESYS 2015 organized by JICE. Tokyo being one of largest mega-cities of the world
generates huge amount of waste. Management of such a waste in itself is a big threat. But
that threat is very beautifully turned into an opportunity by corresponding authority of
Tokyo by proper amalgamation of management and engineering. Incineration plants
operated in Tokyo burns the combustible products, produces heat energy and removes
exhaust to the surrounding only when lowest level of pollution is guaranteed. Article briefly
discusses about management of waste in Tokyo and operation of incineration plants.
Keywords: Ariake, Ash, Incineration, Jenesys, Pollution

1. Introduction
Tokyo is Japan’s Capital and the centre of Japanese politics, economy, and culture. Core
management institutions, such as head offices of companies, administrative agencies, and
foreign corporations, are all concentrated in the metropolitan area, while a web of road and
transportation networks converge in the city. This polarized concentration is generating
more waste which shall be managed more efficiently. Japan in total has 47 prefectures.
Tokyo is one of its prefecture. The 23 cities and Tokyo Metropolitan Government has
designed an institutional frameworks that the duties of municipal waste management were
transferred to 23 cities from viewpoints of stronger autonomy of 23 cities and promotion of
mega-city administration by Tokyo Metropolitan Government on an extensive scale.
Waste management in the 23 cities is performed collaboratively, dividing roles among
the respective municipal governments, the Clean Authority of TOKYO, and the Tokyo
Metropolitan Government. It was decided that 23 cities would independently manage its
own waste collection and transfer, while management of intermediate processing
(incineration, pulverization, etc.) was determined to be handled jointly. This was due to fact
of some cities that had no incineration plant within them, and also for the purpose of
optimizing the processing efficiency. Each of 23 cities collects waste and transfer and looks
after recovery of resources. Whereas Clean Authority of TOKYO looks after Intermediate
waste processing of waste, night soil processing etc. And final disposal (landfill) is
managed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government as consigned by 23 cities and the Clean
Authority of TOKYO.

2. Waste Collection and Transfer

Waste management offices in each of the 23 cities collect and transfer waste. Each city sets
collection days and areas depending on the type of waste, and conducts efficient operation
plans that correspond to seasonal changes and regional trends in waste amount. Waste
processing in the 23 cities is free of charge for household waste (excluding the disposal of
waste exceeding 10 Kg per day), while large-sized waste and business-generated waste are
charged. To ensure efficient transfer, transfer methods are determined based on the type of
waste. Combustible waste is loaded onto collection vehicles (such as compaction type
vehicle) on collection sites, from which it is directly transferred to an incineration plant.
Incombustible waste is transferred to either Chubo Incombustible Waste Processing Centre
or the Keihinjima Island Incombustible Waste Processing Centre. Since both are located at
the waterfront, where waste is reloaded onto container trucks or vessels for relayed transfer.
Such relayed transfer contributes to improved transfer efficiency, reduced traffic
congestion, and alleviation of air pollution due to exhaust. Large-sized waste is delivered to
the Large-Sized Waste Pulverization Processing Facility. Cities that have a transfer station
conduct relayed transfer by reloading it from smaller collection trucks onto larger vehicles.
As calculated by authorities, amount of waste generated by one person one day was around
839 grams. To calculate it, amount of waste generated was divided by population in FY
2014, and the unit was converted to grams.
2783318 tons
9092128 people ÷ 365 days x 1,000,000 = 839 grams
Similarly costs required for the collection, transfer, processing and disposal in FY 2013 was
55,559 yen per 1 ton of waste.

3. Incineration Plants
Combustible waste is incinerated at 20 incineration plants (as of December 2015) in a
safe, stable, and efficient manner. Incineration prevents bacteria, vermin, and foul odor, and
maintains a sanitary environment in Tokyo. By incinerating waste, its volume reduce to
approx. one–twentieth. By recycling a part of bottom ash into cement materials, and by
melting it into slag, the amount going to the landfill is further reduced. Emission of
hazardous substances within exhaust and wastewater from the incineration plants is
controlled and reduced to lower impact on the environment. In an incineration plant, power
generation and heat supply are performed using the heat energy of waste incineration. But
once improper waste is brought into an incinerator Combustibles carried into incineration
plants sometimes contain waste unsuitable for incineration, such as metals, glass, or
oversized waste that exceeds the disposal capacity of the plant. Such improper waste may
cause the halt or failure of incinerators, costing a great deal of money and time before
recovery. Once the facilities become incapable of accepting waste, waste collection and
transfer operations will be interrupted, seriously affecting waste management in all 23
cities. To prevent carry-in of improper waste, and to ensure safe and stable plant operation,
inspection of incoming waste is reinforced, and awareness-raising activities are undertaken.
Special weeks are also set to enhance the above inspection and to perform close observation
at platforms in each incineration plant. Overall regular inspection on incoming waste is also
conducted at all incineration plants in collaboration with the 23 cities.

3.1. Major Facilities in an Incineration Plant

Initially when the truck enters the facility, waste truck scale measure the weight of
waste. Waste collection trucks dump waste into the bunker. Waste is temporarily stored
here until incineration. Some plants even have large vacuums to collect waste through pipes
to this chamber. Waste crane is provided in the top of waste bunker, which continuously
mixes the waste and sends to the incineration. Forced draught fan is used to send air from
the waste bunker to the incineration. The air such sent has a foul smell. Stoker Furnace is
used as Incinerator which is heart of this plant. Incinerator generally burns waste at a high
temperature of over 800 degree Celsius. A boiler is attached to the facility which produces
steam from heat generated when waste is burned, to be used for heat supply and electric
power generation. When something is burned, major two products exhaust gases and ashes
are collected. This two things cannot be directly disposed to the atmosphere. Exhaust flue
gases from the incineration chamber passes through the cooling tower which cools high-
temperature exhaust emitted from the incinerator to around 150 degrees Celsius, for
preventing the re-composition of dioxins. Exhaust gases so cooled must be filtered before
entering the atmosphere. Bag filter removes soot and dusts, dioxins, mercury, hydrogen
chlorides and sulphur oxides from exhaust. Exhaust is cleaned with water and chemicals,
for removing mercury, hydrogen chlorides and sulphur oxides. Next comes the Catalyst
Reaction Tower where dioxins and nitrogen oxides decomposes in exhaust using catalysts.
Through the induced draft fan, exhaust is sent to the stack. Height of stack depends on the
local topography and meteorological conditions. Exhaust that is free of hazardous
substances or odour is released into the air. Solids and heavy metals in waste water
produced from the incineration plant are removed to the limit or below, before wastewater
is released to sewer which reaches water reclamation centre where water is reclaimed
before mixing it with environment. Heart of this plant is Central Control Room which
control and monitors facilities including waste bunker and incinerator. Each facility
continuously sends information to a large-scale computer system, and operations across the
entire incineration plant can be watched on the monitors.
Ash generated from incineration at an incineration Plant is separated into Bottom ash
and Fly ash. Bottom ash is cinder discharge from the bottom of incinerator. Fly ash is soot
and dust within exhaust that is collected by bag filters, etc. Bottom ash after removing ash
to be melted into slag, as well as fly ash after processed with chemicals, are sent to landfill
disposal on the New Sea Surface Disposal Site, which has been established and is managed
by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Because it is extremely difficult to find new
landfill disposal sites in the Tokyo Port, a full-scale initiative has been undertaken to
recycle the amount of landfill disposal and achieving more efficient use of resources. In the
initiative for recycling bottom ash into cement materials, bottom ash that is generated in
incineration plants is transferred to private cement factories by freight vehicles/trains, and
efficiently used as cement materials. Cement materials include limestone, clay, silica, iron
materials, and plaster. Bottom ash is used as substitute for clay. Typically, it is recycled as
Portland cement. Portland cement is most common and widely used type of cement that
accounts for approx. 70% of cement consumption in Japan. Similarly, when bottom ash is
melted at a high temperature of over 1200 degrees Celsius and then rapidly cooled, it turns
into sandy slag. As slag, the volume is almost half that of ash, and approximately one-
fortieth of its original state as waste. The process of making slag decomposes dioxins
within the ash, and traps heavy metals inside, thereby making it safe and efficient for use in
construction materials.
3.2. Environmental Measures and Counter

Exhaust emission, wastewater emission, odour, noise and vibration and ash (bottom and
fly) are major sources which affects the environment. But incineration plants in Tokyo have
managed to counter this measures. Exhaust emission mainly consist Soot and dust, Dioxins,
Mercury, Hydrogen Chloride, sulphur oxides and Nitrogen oxides which may harm
environment. Soot and dust are generally removed by bag filters. Dioxins generation is
restricted through control of waste incineration process, and their re-composition is
prevented by rapid cooling of exhaust in the cooling tower. Dioxins are also removed by
bag filters, and decomposed in the catalyst reaction tower using catalysts. Mercury is
removed by adsorption into activated carbon in bag filters, and by liquid chelate in the gas
scrubber. Hydrogen chlorides and Sulphur oxides are removed by injecting slaked lime into
bag filters, and through a chemical reaction with caustic soda solution in the gas scrubber.
Nitrogen oxides are decomposed in the catalyst reaction tower through a reaction with
ammonia. Similarly, wastewater is treated in the wastewater treatment facilities to meet the
standard value, and released into the sewer. To counter noise and vibration, care is taken for
the layout of machinery and soundproof walls and vibration–control equipment are
installed. Odour of the plant is mainly from waste bunkers, platforms and waste collection
vehicles. Air from inside the waste bunker is sent to the incinerator, where odour is
incinerated and decomposed. While the incinerator is off the line, deodorizing devices are
used and deodorizing agents are spread. Entrances and exits of platforms are sealed with air
curtains and deodorizing agents are spread. Collection Vehicles are washed at washing
facility to remove their odour. We have already discussed about bottom ash and fly ash.

3.3. Heat Energy Management

Incineration plants use the heat energy generated from waste Incineration beneficially in
power generation and in supplying energy. Electricity and hot water produced at plants are
used within facilities to operate the plant, thereby reducing electricity purchases and fuel
costs. Surplus electricity is sold to power companies. All of the plants sell electricity, and
five plants sell heat by hot water and other utilities. “Hot water” is pressurized and remains
in its liquid state even at a temperature over 100 degrees Celsius. In FY 2014, total
generated power was 1126.6 million KWh. From this, Hikarigoaka, Ariake and Shingawa
incineration plants sell heat to supply companies. Shin-koto and Itabashi Plants supply heat
to metropolitan facilities at a charge. In total, 587.4 million KWh electricity was sold from
all incineration plants and 10,406.1 million yen was income revenue generated from
electricity. 526,000 GJ of heat was sold and 187.7 million yen was revenue generated.

3.4. Ariake Incineration Plant

We can see below the details of Ariake Incineration Plant which is one of major
incineration plant located in Tokyo.
The start of construction April, 1991
Term of works
The completion December, 1995

Plottage Approximately 24,000 square meters

Construction costs 41,695 million yen

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries

Martin
Incinerator type
Full continuance combustion fire grate
Incinerator

Heat capacity from the design best 14,200KJ/kg

Scale 400 tons/day

(Furnace radix) (200 tons *2)

Incineration capacity 400 tons/day

Power generation
5,600kW
capacity
1. Vapor
Use of surplus
2. Hot water
heat
kyunetsu
1. kyunetsu (district heating and cooling)
2. Ariake sports center

(Source: http://www.union.tokyo23-seisou.lg.jp.e.de.hp.transer.com/ariake/kanri/kojo/ariake/gaiyo.html
from Feb 1 , 2016)
 Ariake Incineration Plant focuses on waste generated from Industrial and Commercial
sector. Household waste are not processed here. Special pipelines are designed in common
tunnel which carry waste from different areas through large vacuum pumps. Such plants are
also called Pipeline Refuge Collection Plants. Main specification of Refuge Collecting
System is its way of collection of unclassified waste via vacuum system. Waste is collected
in this plant through approximately 448ha and 400 tons of waste per day (12 hours
collection) is collected. For this plant, five pipelines are exchanged to three lines for better
collection efficiency as well as supporting action for failure. Revolution type of line
exchanged is used in Ariake Incineration Plant. Cyclone type refuse separator separates
pipe-line collected refuse from conveying air. Conveyer scale weighs refuse for each user’s
facility. Then separated refuse is discharged continuously to transfer conveyer with air-tight
action for separator and weight-scale. Weighted refuse is conveyed continuously to refuse
bunker. Refuse separated air is filtered for clean air using filter bag. Blower is used to
transfer refuse through pipelines. Geared increasing revolution type turbo blower of
capacity 478m3/min, pressure 6500 mm H2O, 1600kW motor is used in this facility. Fin
tube water cooled air cooler cools hot exhaust air from blower. Finally, odour of exhaust air
is removed by activated carbon adsorption.

Refuse bunker in Ariake Incineration Plant is of 10000m3 capacity. Hydraulic operated

gates (6 units of butterfly type) are located between platform and refuse bunker, and
open/close automatically. Overhead refuse crane installed in the facility grasp the refuse in
bunker to refuse hoppers and carry-out hoppers. 2 units of Indoor overhead moving crane
with polyp bucket of capacity 14m3, 4.2 tons max and 5m diameter. Refuse crane are
remote controlled in control room or can be automatically operated. Refuse is craned to
refuse hopper (inlet to incinerator) which seals air and gas with refuse. Thermal (infrared)
scanner can detect refuse firing and water spraying will operate automatically in case.
Incinerator room in this plant contains two incinerators and their heat recovery steam
boilers. 2 units of Mitsubishi-Martin reverse movement type stokers of capacity
200t/d.1unit is used and stoker is driven by hydraulic ram. Natural gas is used as fuel for
start-up burners. One unit is installed in one incinerator. Natural Circulation water tube
boiler of steam generation capacity 41.94t steam/h with output temp of 300oC and pressure
2.70MPa is installed. Refuse will generally be burnt in 2 hours and sent to ash bunker. Heat
generated from incinerator is used to generate electric power. 1 unit of Back pressure steam
turbine with middle extraction of output 5600 kW which is equivalent to 13,000 household
consumption. Steam is extracted in the middle stage for district heating/cooling plant.

4. Summary
To solve the waste problems, it is important to reduce the waste generation, reuse waste
and to promote recycling waste as resources which is promoted as famous 3R by Clean
Authority of Tokyo. But no matter how much do these, waste is sure to be discharged and
appropriate disposal of waste is necessary. Waste is burnt in the incineration plant and
becomes ash of volume of about one twentieth. This process contributes to prolong the
limits of disposal sites. Incineration plants are making every effort to prevent pollution.
They also utilize the heat energy produced by the incinerators for generating electric power,
supplying steam and hot water to the water front are and neighbouring public facilities.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Supports by Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pulchowk Campus, Institute of
Engineering, Tribhuwan University is gratefully acknowledged and also the author would
like to thank JICE and Ariake Incineration Plant for briefly explaining minute details of
waste management principle and techniques in Tokyo.

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