History of the Ash Washing System

March 1995

Kumagaya-shi calls for a research alliance with the Company on the effective use of incinerator ash (both ash and soot).

March 1996

Launch of tests on incinerator ash characteristics.　

March–October 1997

March 1997
Saitama Prefectural Government established its Sainokuni Plant Doubling Project for adopting technology that uses water to dechlorinate incineration ash.
Launched research on recycling ash for use in cement.
Based on the above-mentioned project, Saitama launched the Saitama Zero-Emissions Exploratory Committee to investigate three businesses (study of refuse derived fuel, or RDF, effective use of molten slag, and effective use of incinerator waste) to ascertain the viability of zero emissions for general waste.
October 1997
Built a pilot plant.

April 1998

Launched operations at pilot plant.　

March 1999

Report on pilot plant's test results issued to Saitama Zero-Emissions Exploratory Committee and accepted.

January 2000

Burning method was reflected in a Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Notification as a way of processing soot.

July 2001

Launched operation of the Ash Washing System at the Kumagaya Plant.

March 2004

In Mie, our Ash Washing System was adopted for treating the soot emitted by the Mie RDF Incineration and Power Generation Project and it began operations. The soot treated by washing is being recycled for use in cement at the Fujiwara Plant.

April 2007

Launched recycling of incineration ash from incineration residue for use in cement at the Oita Plant (Tsukumi).