TOYOTA ERECTING TWO POLLUTION-FREE FACTORIES

TOKYO Toyota's anti-pollution efforts relative to the company's own plants have been remarkably strengthened in recent years, as a result of a growing concern over the potential adverse effects on the environment or industrial facilities.

Two plants in the construction stage have been specially designed to be practically pollution-free and to be environmentally non-intrusive. The emphasis on an undisturbed environment stems partially from Toyota's tremendous research efforts to reduce automotive exhaust pollutants.

The first stage of construction of the Myochi Plant in Aichi Prefecture, which the company started in July 1971,has been nearly completed. And, last April 25th, the company started first-stage construction work on the Shimoyama Plant - also in Aichi Prefecture.

Myochi Plant

The Myochi Plant, Toyota's seventh, will soon become operative, as first-stage construction work is practically finished. The products to be manufactured initially at the 310,000 m² plant are cast-metal chassis parts and components.

A comprehensive wastewater treatment facility was recently completed at the factory. During erection of the Myochi plant, Toyota placed very great emphasis on design and construction of the wastewater treatment and disposal unit. This reflected the company's active commitment to improve plant equipment and facilities so that Toyota plants in operation will never be a negative factor in the daily lives of nearby residents.

The water treatment unit is expected to drastically reduce impurities (Biochemical Oxygen Demand, Chemical Oxygen Demand and Suspended Solids) in the plant's wastewater. Toyota's public welfare investment in the facility amounts to ¥3 billion — one-fifth ol the total cost of first-stage construction of the plant.

For environmental protection purposes, the main building of the plant — which contains the melting furnace — will have no windows.

Shimoyama Plant

On April 25th, Toyota initiated first-stage construction of the Shimoyama Plant (Toyota's eighth), also in Aichi Prefecture. The first-stage construction will cost Toyota ¥13 billion, with buildings covering 50,000 m² . For environmental reasons, the total site space is 420,000 m² .

First stage construction is scheduled to be completed in June 1974; in August of the same year the plant will go partially "on-stream" for the manufacture of a wide range of exhaust gas emission control devices, including manifold reactors, EGR's and catalyst converters. The projected initial output is 10,000 units monthly.

Similar to the Myochi Plant, the Shimoyama Plant will be completely equipped with anti-pollution and environmental protection facilities, including full-scale wastewater treatment and disposal equipment and 20-meter-wide green belts. All power generation facilities will be located in the central part of the plant and additionally screened so that noise will not reach nearby residents.

A Toyota spokesman has called the Shimoyama complex "an ideally designed plant that perfectly reflects the company's advanced approach to environmental protection and a good example for other industries to follow in matching the momentum of the 'green revolution.' "