March 9, 2006
A Bill partially amending the Law for the Promotion of Sorted Collection and Recycling of Containers and Packaging is expected to be adopted by the Cabinet on March 10, 2006 and be submitted to the 164th Session of the Diet. The bill aims to promote the 3Rs (reduce, reuse and recycle) of containers and packaging wastes, with collaboration by all stakeholders including national as well as local governments, business operators and citizens, and to streamline the recycling scheme of containers and packaging wastes.
<Outline of the amendment>
| 1. | Promotion of reducing containers and packaging wastes |
| (i) |
Awareness raising of consumers and collaboration with business operators |
| The Minister of the Environment commissions "the voluntary advisors for containers and packaging waste reduction". The advisors are required to survey the state of disposal and efforts on waste reduction in addition to providing guidance and advice to consumers. |
| (ii) |
Introduction of measures to promote waste reduction of business operators |
| Competent ministers set clear criteria for business operators, including retailers, in regard to appropriate measures to reduce containers and packaging wastes. Also, business operators using more than certain quantity of containers and packaging are mandated to report the state of their efforts in reducing containers and packaging. Those operators with insufficient reporting are subject to administrative recommendation, public announcement of their company names, and the order to take appropriate measures. |
| 2. |
Introduction of a system under which business operators make financial contributions to municipalities |
Introduce a system under which business operators make financial contributions to municipalities. The amount of contribution shall be calculated on the basis of the degree of streamlining achieved in the recycling process as a result of appropriate sorting of wastes at the collection stage carried out by municipalities.
| (i) |
Strengthen penalties to business operators who do not comply with mandatory recycling (so called "free riders"). |
| (ii) |
Taking into consideration the current situation of waste plastic bottles being exported outside Japan, the national government will clarify its policy by adding an article addressing the "smooth delivery of waste plastic bottles for sound recycling" to the Chapter 2 "Basic Policies" section in the Law. |
[LINK]
