- Why we oppose the industrial waste plant...-
1) It is now widely known that the emission of dioxin, which has been
a great
social problem, is mostly caused by incinerating wastes. Above all,
facilities
or plants incinerating industrial chemical wastes have not been
investigated
ever before, and we have great anxiety about the pollution caused by
those
facilities.
It is unnecessary to cite the example of Tokorozawa city, Saitama
prefecture,
where such facilities are polluting the air, the water, the soil of
the local
area and damaging the inhabitants' health. Common sense points us
toward
the danger.
2) Near the planned plant site, Hokubu Cleaning Center, set up by
Oyama Union
of Health and Hygiene, is being operated. All residents of this
area
understand the importance of not incinerating plastic goods, and
co-operate
to sort wastes into several materials, so that plastics are not
thrown into
the incinerator. Even so, we cannot prevent the emission of
dioxin.
The planned waste disposal plant is supposed to incinerate fourteen
sorts of
industrial wastes. We cannot imagine how much toxic gas will emitted
and
how much the extent of pollution damage will be.
3) Within 2-kilometer radius, enveloping countless private
residences, two
kinder-gartens, three elementary schools and tow junior high schools,
there
are also numerous medical establishments and homes for the
elderly.
The risk of damage by dioxin and other toxic chemicals, emitted
from the
plant chimney, is beyond our grasp. In fact, in Tokorozawa city,
which is now
called "Sampai Ginza"(a flourshig place with many industrial waste
plants),
because there are a lot of industrial west plants, a high dioxin
content was
detected in the soil of a park 4-kilometer away from the plants'
location.
The aims of our society are not only to oppose the construction of
such an
industrial waste plant. We consider that we ought to address
environmental
problems including waste disposal more sincerely and from a
residents' view
point.
Some say, "As long as wastes are produced, we have to dispose of
them".
That appears to be true. However, isn't it another fact that such a
concessionary
attitude has brought today's serious environmental problems? We
cannot find
any promising view of the future on that standpoint. In order to
prevent future
pollution, we think that we should change the traditional idea that
is " wastes
are to be incinerated".
Our appeal is aimed at the elimination of wastes and we hope to
realize a
society with comprehensive resource-recycling systems. This is the
matter
for the conscience of every resident as well as one of
administration.
We must preserve our environment with our own hands. Though the
difference
on person can make is limited, the effect working together is
considerable.
What definite plans can we make? What will we be able to achieve?
These
are questions for all of us...
To preserve our environment and to hand it to our children is
surely a noble
cause, and one worth of your full support.