Photo/Illutration Decontaminated soil with radiation levels low enough to meet government standards is placed in flower beds at the economy ministry in Tokyo’s Kasumigaseki district on Sept. 14. (Nami Sugiura)

Approximately 28 cubic meters of soil collected during decontamination efforts in Fukushima Prefecture following the 2011 nuclear accident was placed in flower beds at the economy ministry in Tokyo's Kasumigaseki district on Sept. 14.

The addition is part of an initiative aimed at promoting public understanding of recycling the decontaminated soil.

As of the end of August, approximately 14.1 million cubic meters in total was housed at interim storage facilities surrounding the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant in the towns of Okuma and Futaba.

Under current law, the government must dispose of this soil outside Fukushima Prefecture by March 2045.

To reduce the volume requiring final disposal, the government plans to reuse about three-quarters of it—specifically, soil with radioactive material concentrations of 8,000 becquerels per kilogram or less—in public works and other projects.

A total of nine government ministry and agency locations are scheduled to incorporate the soil in flower beds or embankments.

Deliveries were also made on Sept. 14 to the grounds of two government buildings housing the environment and finance ministries, among others.

The soil will be gradually transported to other sites as well.

In all cases, a layer of regular soil will be added to cover the decontaminated dirt used.

(This article was written by Keitaro Fukuchi and Nami Sugiura.)

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