Japanese Recycling Research Articles

A-5 日本国内のパソコンリサイクル事業における現状と課題(グローバル競争/環境プロジェクト研究トラック)

A-5 日本国内のパソコンリサイクル事業における現状と課題(グローバル競争/環境プロジェクト研究トラック)

Topics and Strategies for Japanese Recycling Industries with an Eye toward Expansion in the Asian Region

廃棄物分野の産業の海外展開は最近に始まったことではない。まずは汚水処理分野の浄化槽や医療廃棄物用の小型焼却炉が消極的に売り出されてきたが，安い外国製の製品に負けている。本報ではわが国の循環産業がアジアへの展開を狙った場合，何が必要かを論じる。そのための必要情報としてアジアの経済発展の状況とごみ発生量の増加を示したうえで，そのごみを処理する市場がどのように増えるのかを示す。そのアジアで大型ごみ焼却発電の発注が少し出てきているが，その事業スキームがどのようなものか，日本国内の自治体発注とどのように違うのかを示す。その上で，環境省の循環産業海外展開の戦略を踏まえて，今後循環産業がアジアでその優位性を発揮していくにはどのような戦略が必要なのかを論じ，民間の海外展開戦略を支援する都市間連携の重要性，その都市の発注事務を手伝うわが国のコンサルタントの国際化が重要あることを示す。

Toward the Creation of Major Japanese Recycling Companies

2001 年 1 月に「循環型社会形成推進基本法」が完全施行された。わが国は，循環型社会の形成を目指し，企業活動等に伴い発生する多種多様な廃棄物を，安全かつ総合的に，きっちりと後始末 (処理および再資源化) できる廃棄物処理業と資源リサイクル業が一体となった静脈産業の誕生を期待した。あれから 15 年たったが，まだ発展途上の状態である。 静脈産業は，動脈産業と一心同体，表裏一体の関係でありステークホルダーでもある。人口減少や高齢化社会の到来が明らかになった今，多くの動脈産業は経済成長が期待されるアジア地域へ生産拠点を移転しはじめた。そして静脈産業も製造産業のパートナーとしてアジア地域を市場として意識せざるをえなくなった。アジア地域には欧米のリサイクルメジャーが既に進出している。国内の静脈産業が将来，市場を争う相手は，欧米のリサイクルメジャーであることはほぼ間違いない。欧米のリサイクルメジャーと比肩できる企業を作り上げる必要がある。今こそ，日本発！ リサイクルメジャーを作りあげるときである。

Trends in Japanese households' critical-metals material footprints

This study adopts the concept of material footprint (MF), an indicator for consumption-based material extraction via international trade, and identifies the relationship between the MFs of critical metals for low-carbon technologies – neodymium, cobalt, and platinum – and Japanese household consumption through a multiregional input–output approach using the global link input–output model. We focus solely on the impact of changes in consumption patterns caused by demographic change on the structures of the MFs from 2005 to 2035. As a result, the total MFs of neodymium, cobalt, and platinum in 2035 are estimated to be 11%, 6.6% and 4.7% lower than in 2005, respectively. In terms of commodity sectors, the MFs of the three metals induced by “passenger motor cars” are estimated to decrease most between 2005 and 2035. Finally, we carried out an assessment of the extent to which the products dealt with under current Japanese recycling laws cover the MFs calculated for 2035. This indicates that continued enforcement of the recycling laws can play an important role in alerting consumers to the MFs of critical metals, particularly neodymium. For improving the accuracy of the above estimates, further studies need to incorporate other future trends like technologies and trade.

Assessment of Japanese recycling policies for home electric appliance: Cost-effectiveness analysis and socioeconomic and technological implications

Under Japan’s home electric appliances (HEA) recycling policy, consumers pay a recycling fee when discarding of four types of HEA waste: televisions, refrigerators, washing machines, and air conditioners. However, other systems have also been favored as policy instruments in terms of cost and recycling rate. We assess the recycling policies by addressing their cost effectiveness and socioeconomic and technological implications using Japanese market and recycling data to examine any potentially substantial differences. We develop an economic model of mass balance of disposed HEAs and then calculate reduction costs under three recycling policies. Overall, to achieve a certain level of waste reduction, a deferred disposal fee system always requires the most expensive fees. Whether a deposit-refund system incurs lower fees than an advanced disposal fee system depends on demand elasticity and consumers’ response to recycling fees. We also describe impacts and implications of these policies on recycling behavior, technological development and environmental issues.

Actual Condition and Assignment in Japanese Recycling Business of PC

Actual Condition and Assignment in Japanese Recycling Business of PC

Export of Recyclable Materials and the Japanese Recycling System: The Case of Used Plastic Bottles

In recent years, the increased export of recyclable materials from Japan to Asia, particularly to China, has raised questions regarding Japanese recycling system for containers and packaging, which had assumed no transboundary movement of these materials when first implemented. Facing significant outflow, the Japanese government added the policy to the revised law to encourage local governments to transfer used plastic bottles to designated recyclers who process them for domestic manufactures of final products. However, it is questionable whether such a policy is beneficial as well as sustainable. This study attempts to provide an answer to this question by constructing a simple model of plastic bottle recycling and conducting a positive as well as a normative analysis of the export of recyclable materials in the context of increasing import demand and international market fluctuation.

Current results and future perspectives for Japanese recycling of home electrical appliances

The Japanese system of recycling home electrical appliances has several unique aspects, including (1) a limited number of target appliances, (2) a recycling fee system that requires consumers to pay a recycling fee at the time of disposal, and (3) a direct recycling obligation for manufacturers, who have a physical, rather than a financial, responsibility for their end-of-life products. We studied data from 2001 to 2007 and found that the amount of four specified home electrical appliances and their materials that was recycled increased from about 319,249 tonnes in 2001 to about 447,262 tonnes—or 3.5 kg per inhabitant—in 2006. Recycling yield and development of recycling technologies have also improved. New recycling technologies have enabled a higher rate of material recycling of plastics (i.e., a closed-loop recycling). Improved eco-design, such as design for easier disassembly, has been promoted, and the higher quality of discarded appliances has enhanced the reuse market. Hazardous substances and fluorocarbons are being well managed. Problems with the recycling system include inelastic recycling fees, illegal dumping, illegal transfer by retailers, and the limited number of target appliances. Recycling fees could be reduced; this move might reduce the incidence of illegal dumping, as would engage stakeholders in collaborative efforts against illegal dumping. Illegal transfers could be reduced by improved traceability for retailers. Products such as liquid crystal displays, plasma display panels and clothes dryers have become increasingly common and should be also be targeted for recycling.

Estimating the effect of unit-based pricing in the presence of sample selection bias under Japanese Recycling Law

In Japan the Containers and Packaging Recycling Law requires the collection of recyclable packaging and containers. In particular, municipalities are required to collect and store the containers and packaging that households have separated from solid waste. However, the law has non-binding standards, and some municipalities do not provide collection services for these recyclables. When estimating the substitution effect of unit-based pricing, i.e. the substitution of recyclables for solid waste, missing data for those municipalities that do not provide a collection service will lead to a truncated sample and, therefore, a sample selection bias in the estimators. We use a Type 2 Tobit model to correct a bias which arises because of missing data. This model provides a consistent estimator, and shows that a higher price for bags and tags increases recycling by households under the unit-based pricing systems introduced by municipalities.