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Add references for the recycling acts/laws. (Ministry of Justice determined to use "act" for "法律” instead of "law". I therefore replaced these words although ministries still use "law" in many webpages (unchanged).
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{{nihongo|'''Recycling in Japan'''|リサイクル|Risaikuru}}, an aspect of [[Waste management in Japan|waste management in Japan]], is based on the Japanese ''Container and Packaging Recycling Law''. [[Plastic]], [[paper]], [[PET bottles]], [[aluminium]] and [[glass]] are collected and [[recycle]]d. Japan’s country profile in [[Waste Atlas]] shows that in 2012 Recycling Rate{{clarify|date=January 2018}} was 20.8%.<ref>[http://www.atlas.d-waste.com/ Waste Atlas](2012). Country Data: JAPAN</ref>{{specify|date=January 2018}}
{{nihongo|'''Recycling in Japan'''|リサイクル|Risaikuru}}, an aspect of [[Waste management in Japan|waste management in Japan]], is based on the Japanese ''Container and Packaging Recycling Law''. [[Plastic]], [[paper]], [[PET bottles]], [[aluminium]] and [[glass]] are collected and [[recycle]]d. Japan’s country profile in [[Waste Atlas]] shows that in 2012 Recycling Rate{{clarify|date=January 2018}} was 20.8%.<ref>[http://www.atlas.d-waste.com/ Waste Atlas](2012). Country Data: JAPAN</ref>{{specify|date=January 2018}}


== Container and Packaging Recycling Law ==
== Container and Packaging Recycling Act ==
Also called ''Law for the Promotion of Sorted Collection and Recycling of Containers and Packaging'', has been enforced since April 1997 by the [[Ministry of the Environment (Japan)|Ministry of the Environment]] to reduce the waste of glass containers, PET bottles and paper cartons. Since April 2000 [[plastic container]]s and packages other than PET bottles have been included.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.env.go.jp/en/laws/recycle/07.pdf|title=Container and Packaging Recycling Law|access-date=2008-11-16|publisher=Ministry of the Environment, Japan|date=2005-01-05}}</ref> According to the law, the recycling is conducted by the {{nihongo|''Japanese Container and Package Recycling Association (JCPRA)''|財団法人日本容器包装リサイクル協会|Zaidan-hōjin Nihon-yōki-hōsō-risaikuru-kyōkai}}, a government-designated organization established September 25, 1996.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jcpra.or.jp/eng/jcpra__eng01.html |title=JCPRA Profile |access-date=2008-11-16 |publisher=JCPRA |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081026101732/http://www.jcpra.or.jp/eng/jcpra__eng01.html |archive-date=October 26, 2008 }}</ref>
Also called ''Act on the Promotion of Sorted Collection and Recycling of Containers and Packaging'', has been enforced since April 1997 by the [[Ministry of the Environment (Japan)|Ministry of the Environment]] to reduce the waste of glass containers, PET bottles and paper cartons. Since April 2000 [[plastic container]]s and packages other than PET bottles have been included.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Japanese Law Translation - Act on the Promotion of Sorted Collection and Recycling of Containers and Packaging|url=http://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/law/detail/?ft=2&re=01&dn=1&yo=%E5%AE%B9%E5%99%A8%E5%8C%85%E8%A3%85&x=0&y=0&ia=03&ja=04&ph=&ky=&page=1|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.env.go.jp/en/laws/recycle/07.pdf|title=Container and Packaging Recycling Law|access-date=2008-11-16|publisher=Ministry of the Environment, Japan|date=2005-01-05}}</ref> According to the act, the recycling is conducted by the {{nihongo|''Japanese Container and Package Recycling Association (JCPRA)''|財団法人日本容器包装リサイクル協会|Zaidan-hōjin Nihon-yōki-hōsō-risaikuru-kyōkai}}, a government-designated organization established September 25, 1996.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jcpra.or.jp/eng/jcpra__eng01.html |title=JCPRA Profile |access-date=2008-11-16 |publisher=JCPRA |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081026101732/http://www.jcpra.or.jp/eng/jcpra__eng01.html |archive-date=October 26, 2008 }}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" align="right"
{| class="wikitable" align="right"
|+ Recycling 2009<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jcpra.or.jp/eng/statistics.html|title=Recycling statistic|access-date=2011-02-19|publisher=JCPRA|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613104803/http://www.jcpra.or.jp/eng/statistics.html|archive-date=2011-06-13}}</ref>
|+ Recycling 2009<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jcpra.or.jp/eng/statistics.html|title=Recycling statistic|access-date=2011-02-19|publisher=JCPRA|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613104803/http://www.jcpra.or.jp/eng/statistics.html|archive-date=2011-06-13}}</ref>
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Recycling of [[beverage can|steel cans]] is not regulated by the law, but in 2006 about 99% of the municipalities collected and recycled them.<ref name="japanfs.org-SteelCan">{{cite web|url=http://www.japanfs.org/en/pages/026840.html|title=Japan Maintains World's Highest Steel Can Recycling Rate: 88.1% in 2006|publisher=japanfs.org|access-date=2008-11-17|date=2007-11-09}}</ref> In 1973 the {{nihongo|''Japan Steel Can Recycling Association''|スチール缶リサイクル協会|Suchiiru-kan Risaikuru kyōkai}}, a [[non-profit organization]] to promote the recycling of steel cans, had been established. According to its statistics 88.1% of steel cans have been recycled in 2006, maintaining the world's highest level.<ref name="japanfs.org-SteelCan"/>
Recycling of [[beverage can|steel cans]] is not regulated by the law, but in 2006 about 99% of the municipalities collected and recycled them.<ref name="japanfs.org-SteelCan">{{cite web|url=http://www.japanfs.org/en/pages/026840.html|title=Japan Maintains World's Highest Steel Can Recycling Rate: 88.1% in 2006|publisher=japanfs.org|access-date=2008-11-17|date=2007-11-09}}</ref> In 1973 the {{nihongo|''Japan Steel Can Recycling Association''|スチール缶リサイクル協会|Suchiiru-kan Risaikuru kyōkai}}, a [[non-profit organization]] to promote the recycling of steel cans, had been established. According to its statistics 88.1% of steel cans have been recycled in 2006, maintaining the world's highest level.<ref name="japanfs.org-SteelCan"/>


== Other recycling laws ==
== Other recycling acts ==


* {{Nihongo|''[[Home appliance]] recycling law''|[[:ja:特定家庭用機器再商品化法|特定家庭用機器再商品化法]]|Tokutei Kateiyō Kiki Saishyōhinka Hō}} - enacted June 1998, enforced April 2001
* {{Nihongo|''[[Home appliance]] recycling act''|[[:ja:特定家庭用機器再商品化法|特定家庭用機器再商品化法]]|Tokutei Kateiyō Kiki Saishyōhinka Hō|formally referred to as "Act on Recycling of Specified Home Appliances"}} - enacted June 1998, enforced April 2001 <ref>{{Cite web|title=METI - Act on Recycling of Specified Home Appliances|url=https://www.meti.go.jp/policy/recycle/main/english/law/home.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
** [[Air conditioners]], [[television set]]s, [[refrigerator]]s and [[washing machines]].
** [[Air conditioners]], [[television set]]s, [[refrigerator]]s and [[washing machines]].
* {{Nihongo|''Construction material recycling law''|[[:ja:建設工事に係る資材の再資源化等に関する法律|建設工事に係る資材の再資源化等に関する法律]]|Kensetsu Kōji ni kakaru Shizai no Saishigenka tō ni kansuru Hōritsu}} - enacted May 2000
* {{Nihongo|''Construction material recycling act''|[[:ja:建設工事に係る資材の再資源化等に関する法律|建設工事に係る資材の再資源化等に関する法律]]|Kensetsu Kōji ni kakaru Shizai no Saishigenka tō ni kansuru Hōritsu}} - enacted May 2000
** [[Concrete]], [[asphalt]]/concrete, [[wood]] building materials
** [[Concrete]], [[asphalt]]/concrete, [[wood]] building materials
* {{Nihongo|''[[Food]] recycling law''|[[:ja:食品循環資源の再生利用等の促進に関する法律|食品循環資源の再生利用等の促進に関する法律]]|Shokuhin Junkan Shigen no Saisei Riyō tō no Sokushin ni kansuru Hōritsu}}
* {{Nihongo|''[[Food]] recycling act''|[[:ja:食品循環資源の再生利用等の促進に関する法律|食品循環資源の再生利用等の促進に関する法律]]|Shokuhin Junkan Shigen no Saisei Riyō tō no Sokushin ni kansuru Hōritsu}}
* {{Nihongo|''[[End-of-life (product)|End-of-life]] vehicle recycling law''|[[:ja:使用済自動車の再資源化等に関する法律|使用済自動車の再資源化等に関する法律]]|Shiyōzumi Jidōsha no Saishigenka tō ni kansuru Hōritsu}}
* {{Nihongo|''[[End-of-life (product)|End-of-life]] vehicle recycling act''|[[:ja:使用済自動車の再資源化等に関する法律|使用済自動車の再資源化等に関する法律]]|Shiyōzumi Jidōsha no Saishigenka tō ni kansuru Hōritsu}}<ref>{{Cite web|title=Japanese Law Translation - Act on Recycling, etc. of End-of-Life Vehicles|url=http://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/law/detail/?ft=1&re=01&dn=1&x=0&y=0&co=01&ia=03&ja=04&ky=%E5%86%8D%E8%B3%87%E6%BA%90&page=9|url-status=live}}</ref>
* ''Act on the Promotion of Effective Utilization of Resources''<ref>{{Cite web|title=Japanese Law Translation - Act on the Promotion of Effective Utilization of Resources|url=http://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/law/detail/?ft=1&re=01&dn=1&x=0&y=0&co=01&ia=03&ja=04&ky=%E5%86%8D%E8%B3%87%E6%BA%90&page=10|url-status=live}}</ref> ([[資源有効利用促進法]], ''Shigen Yukō Riyou Sokushin Hō'') - enacted May 2000, enforced April 2001
* ''Law for the promotion of effective utilization of resources'' - enacted May 2000, enforced April 2001<!-- 資源の有効な利用の促進に関する法律(しげんのゆうこうなりようのそくしんにかんするほうりつ)? -->
*''Act on Promotion of Recycling of Small Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment'' ([[使用済小型電子機器等の再資源化の促進に関する法律]], ''Siyou Zumi Kogata Denshi Kiki tō no Sai Shigenka no Sokushin ni kansuru Hōristu)'' <ref>{{Cite web|title=Japanese Law Translation - Act on Promotion of Recycling of Small Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment|url=http://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/law/detail/?ft=1&re=01&dn=1&x=0&y=0&co=01&ia=03&ja=04&ky=%E5%86%8D%E8%B3%87%E6%BA%90&page=7|url-status=live}}</ref>


== Symbols ==
== Symbols ==
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== See also ==
== See also ==
* [[Recycling]]
* [[Recycling]]
*[[Sound Material-Cycle Society]]
* [[Waste management in Japan]]
* [[Waste management in Japan]]
* [[Electronic waste in Japan]]
* [[Electronic waste in Japan]]

Revision as of 23:27, 12 June 2021

Recycling bins in Japan

Recycling in Japan (リサイクル, Risaikuru), an aspect of waste management in Japan, is based on the Japanese Container and Packaging Recycling Law. Plastic, paper, PET bottles, aluminium and glass are collected and recycled. Japan’s country profile in Waste Atlas shows that in 2012 Recycling Rate[clarification needed] was 20.8%.[1][specify]

Container and Packaging Recycling Act

Also called Act on the Promotion of Sorted Collection and Recycling of Containers and Packaging, has been enforced since April 1997 by the Ministry of the Environment to reduce the waste of glass containers, PET bottles and paper cartons. Since April 2000 plastic containers and packages other than PET bottles have been included.[2][3] According to the act, the recycling is conducted by the Japanese Container and Package Recycling Association (JCPRA) (財団法人日本容器包装リサイクル協会, Zaidan-hōjin Nihon-yōki-hōsō-risaikuru-kyōkai), a government-designated organization established September 25, 1996.[4]

Recycling 2009[5]
Product Volume of recycling
tons
Change
since 2000
Recycling unit costs
¥ / kg
Change
since 2000
Glass bottles, no color 155,076 -16.04% 4.1 -1.23%
Glass bottles, brown 133,560 +43.62% 5.5 -28.40%
Glass bottles, other 107,383 +10.09% 9.2 +13.64%
PET bottles 257,906 +167.03% 1.7 -98.09%
Paper 33,934 -29.03% 13.3 -77.32%
Plastics 853,581 +463.53% 65.7 -37.43%
  • The consumers are required to follow sorting guidelines established by the municipalities.
  • The sorted waste is then collected by the municipalities and stored for collecting by the recycling company.
  • Manufactures and business entities using containers and packages have to pay a recycling fee to the JCPRA, in accordance with the volume they manufacture or sell.
  • Each year recycling business entities are selected by a public bidding in every local municipality where a waste storage site is located. They are assigned to collect and transport the waste from the storage sites to recycling facilities. To make sure the waste is getting recycled, these recycling business entities receive payment only after showing a delivery report, signed by the recipient of the recycled products.
  • If an item was disposed of improperly, a large red warning sticker is put on the offending rubbish bag to shame the person responsible.[6]

Recycling of steel cans is not regulated by the law, but in 2006 about 99% of the municipalities collected and recycled them.[7] In 1973 the Japan Steel Can Recycling Association (スチール缶リサイクル協会, Suchiiru-kan Risaikuru kyōkai), a non-profit organization to promote the recycling of steel cans, had been established. According to its statistics 88.1% of steel cans have been recycled in 2006, maintaining the world's highest level.[7]

Other recycling acts

Symbols

Recycling symbol on a paper carton (紙パック, Kami pakku)
Recycling symbols used in Japan
Paper (, Kami)
Plastic (プラ, Pura)
Aluminum (アルミ, Arumi)
Steel (スチール, Suchiiru)
PET bottles

Recycling plans

On March 25, 2008 the Japanese Cabinet approved a plan that targets to reduce the total waste from about 52 million tons in 2007 to about 50 million tons in 2012 and to raise the waste recycling rate from 20 to 25%. Thermal recycling and a charging system for waste disposal services will be promoted.[12]

3R Initiative

This G8 initiative, first proposed at the G8 Summit in June 2004, aims to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle waste.[13] At the G8 Environmental Minister Meeting in Kobe on May 24–26, 2008, the ministers agreed about the Kobe 3R Action plan. It intends to improve resource productivity, to establish an international sound material-cycle society and to bring forward 3Rs capacity in developing countries.[14][15] According to this plan, Japan also announced a New Action Plan towards a Global Zero Waste Society, aimed to establish material cycle societies internationally.[16]

The Japanese government set October as the official month for 3R promotions. This was done to specify and allocate deliberate time to encourage corporations and businesses to focus on the importance of reducing, reusing and recycling waste. During the promotion month, the government and other companies organise informative events and parties to publicise the ideas of a sound material-cycle society.[17]

Scandals

In January 2008 five paper companies in Japan were accused of misleading customers about the recycled paper content of their products. Oji Paper, the largest paper company in Japan, admitted that its copy and print paper contained 5 to 10% recycled paper, instead of the 50% stated. The president of Oji Paper apologized to its customers, and the president of Nippon Pages, the second largest paper company in Japan, resigned to take responsibility. The Japanese Fair Trade Commission said it would investigate.[18]

See also

References

  1. ^ Waste Atlas(2012). Country Data: JAPAN
  2. ^ "Japanese Law Translation - Act on the Promotion of Sorted Collection and Recycling of Containers and Packaging".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. ^ "Container and Packaging Recycling Law" (PDF). Ministry of the Environment, Japan. 2005-01-05. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
  4. ^ "JCPRA Profile". JCPRA. Archived from the original on October 26, 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
  5. ^ "Recycling statistic". JCPRA. Archived from the original on 2011-06-13. Retrieved 2011-02-19.
  6. ^ ""Recycling in Japan" or "Reasons to get it right and avoid eternal shame"". SoraNews24 -Japan News-. 2014-05-14. Retrieved 2020-03-23.
  7. ^ a b "Japan Maintains World's Highest Steel Can Recycling Rate: 88.1% in 2006". japanfs.org. 2007-11-09. Retrieved 2008-11-17.
  8. ^ "METI - Act on Recycling of Specified Home Appliances".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. ^ "Japanese Law Translation - Act on Recycling, etc. of End-of-Life Vehicles".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  10. ^ "Japanese Law Translation - Act on the Promotion of Effective Utilization of Resources".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  11. ^ "Japanese Law Translation - Act on Promotion of Recycling of Small Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ^ "MOE Sets Targets to Reduce Waste, Increase Waste Power Generation and Recycling by 2012". japanfs.org. 2008-09-21. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
  13. ^ "The 3R Initiative". Ministry of the Environment, Japan. 2008-05-27. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
  14. ^ "G8 Environmental Minister Meeting". Ministry of the Environment, Japan. 2008-05-25. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
  15. ^ "Kobe 3R Action Plan" (PDF). Ministry of the Environment, Japan. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
  16. ^ "Japan's New Action Plan towards a Zero Waste Society" (PDF). Ministry of the Environment, Japan. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
  17. ^ "History and Current State of Waste Management in Japan" (PDF). Ministry of the Environment. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  18. ^ McCurry, Justin (2008-01-18). "Recycling scandal hits Japan". London: guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 2008-11-16.