Japan To Burn Radioactive Debris

Here we go. Radioactive Japan (or at least East Japan). Now all radioactive debris and garbage can and will be burned and buried.

The news headlines at various media outlets say "ashes that contain up to 100,000 becquerels/kg of radioactive cesium", but if you read the news carefully, as long as there are "countermeasures" to prevent the leakage of radioactive cesium into the surrounding environment, the Ministry is prepared to allow the ashes with any amount of radioactive materials to be buried in regular waste final disposal facilities.

From NHK News (8/28/2011):

原発事故で放射性物質が付着したがれきや一般ごみを燃やした灰について、環境省は、含まれる放射性セシウムが１キログラム当たり８０００ベクレルを超えるものも、地下水への流出を防ぐ対策をしたうえで、埋め立てができるとする方針をまとめました。

Regarding the ashes after burning the disaster debris and regular household garbage contaminated with radioactive materials, the Ministry of the Environment has decided on a policy that will allow the burial of ashes that exceed 8,000 becquerels/kg of radioactive cesium, as long as there are countermeasures in place to prevent the leakage into the ground water.

これは、２７日開かれた環境省の専門家による会合で示されたものです。放射性物質が付着したがれきの処理について、環境省はこれまで、燃やした灰に含まれる放射性セシウムが１キログラム当たり８０００ベクレル以下であれば埋め立てを認める方針を示していましたが、より濃度が高い灰については一時保管するよう求め、処理方法の検討を続けてきました。

The new policy was revealed during the meeting of experts affiliated with the Ministry of the Environment on August 27. So far, the Ministry's policy has been to allow the ashes with 8,000 becquerels/kg of radioactive cesium and below to be buried, but require the ashes that exceed that level to be stored temporarily while the Ministry decides on the disposal method.

新たな方針では、放射性セシウムが８０００ベクレルを超え１０万ベクレル以下の場合は、放射性セシウムが地下水に流れ出ないよう、灰をセメントで固めたりコンクリートの容器に入れたりしたうえで埋め立てられるとしています。また、１０万ベクレルを超える灰はさらなる対策として屋根やコンクリートの囲いがある処分場に埋め立てるとしています。

NOTE: All along my question has been. WHAT do they intend to do with the enormous amounts of debris and demolished buildings, homes, cars after the Tsunami? Well, this is it. And the last time I checked smoke still rises. Yes, it will get into the various wind patters and circle the globe, heaping more radioactive waste on the Northern Hemisphere.