State of Discharge and Treatment of Municipal Solid Waste in FY 2005

A nationwide survey on the state of discharge and treatment of municipal solid waste (wastes and excrement) in FY 2005 (April 1, 2005 - March 31, 2006) was conducted and the results have been summarized as follows (Figures in parentheses are those of FY 2004).

1. State of discharge and treatment
(1) Total amount of discharge
Total volume and per-capita volume have decreased slightly.
- Total volume: 52.73 million tons (53.38 million tons)
- Per-capita volume: 1.131 kg/capita/day (1.146 kg/capita/day)
(2) Treatment
A steady increase in the total volume of recycled waste and the recycle rate has been observed, while the volume of final disposal decreased by 9.3% compared to FY 2004.
- Total volume of recycled waste: 10.03 million tons (9.40 million tons) Increased by 6.7% from FY 2004.
- Reduction by intermediate treatment 35.40 million tons (35.94 million tons)
- Final disposal 7.33 million tons (8.09 million tons) Decreased by 9.4% from FY 2004.
- Reduction treatment rate 97.1% (96.5 %)
- Direct landfill rate 2.9% (3.5%)
- Recycle rate 19.0% (17.6%) Increased by 1.4 % from FY 2004.

2. State of waste incineration facilities
A decrease in the number of waste incineration facilities was achieved by consolidating facilities, as was a slight increase in treatment capacity per site.
Treatment facilities with power generation facilities comprise 21.7% of the total. Total generation capacity increased slightly.
(Data as of March 31, 2006.)
- Incineration facilities 1,319 sites (1,374 sites)
- Treatment capacity 189,478 tons/day (195,952 tons/day)
- Treatment capacity per site 144 tons/day (143 tons/day)
- Incineration facilities utilizing waste heat 904 sites (992sites)
- Incineration facilities with power generation facilities 286 sites (281 sites) (21.7% of the total)
- Total generation capacity 1,515 MW (1,491 MW)

3. State of final disposal sites
While remaining disposal capacity is steadily decreasing, securing of final disposal facilities continues to be difficult.
The remaining lifetime of final disposal sites is increasing due to the decrease in the amount of final disposal.
In the Kanto and Chubu areas, wastes are being disposed of beyond the boundaries of each area due to lack of final disposal facilities within.
(Data as of March 31, 2006.)
- Remaining capacity 133.02 million cubic meters (138.26 million cubic meters)
- Remaining lifetime 14.8 years (14.0 years)

4. Status of waste management expenditure
Decrease in total expenditure for waste management.
- Waste management expenditure 1,902.4 billion yen (1,934.3 billion yen)
- Construction improvement expenses 282.4 billion yen (301.8 billion yen)
- Treatment and maintenance expenses 1,513.6 billion yen (1,544.6 billion yen)

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