Dynamic Simulation of Waste Paper Recycling System in Japan

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to make clear the prospects and policies for waste paper recycling and utilization in Japan. The waste paper recycling system is composed of many processes relevant to the production, distribution and consumption of paper and board, and the generation, recovery and disposal of waste paper. A dynamic model of the national level is developed first so as to simulate the behaviour of the whole system and to clarify the real issue in this system. Then, the dynamic simulation on the future trend of waste paper recycling and utilization is carried out and at the same time the policy that will be the most promising in order to promote the waste paper recycling is made clear. The quantitative assessment of several practical measures for the reconciliation of the problem of future waste paper supply and requirement is performed. As a result, it is concluded that the most effective and desirable countermeasure for overcoming the anticipated shortage of waste paper supply in the future is to increase the recovery rate of waste paper up to 60% by revising and consolidating the collection sector.