The Japanese Ministry of the Environment established a committee to introduce a system for the washing and reuse of PET bottles, which are now recycled or disposed of, and its first meeting was held on March 7, 2008. The committee discussed the promotion of cyclical use of containers and packaging, including PET bottles, by encouraging reuse and a deposit system.

Containers and packaging waste, including PET bottles, account for about 60 percent (by volume) of household waste. Under the current Containers and Packaging Recycling Law, municipalities engage in collection and businesses take responsibility in recycling. Meanwhile, the Fundamental Law for Establishing a Sound Material-Cycle Society presents the priority order from the viewpoint of reducing pressure on the environment: 1. reduce, 2. reuse, 3. recycle, 4. heat recovery, and 5. proper disposal. The Ministry argues it is necessary to further reduce environmental burden by promoting reuse.

The committee will consider the consumer acceptability and economic advantages of reuse, social systems to secure selection and collection of returnable bottles, and safety and quality of goods with regard to food sanitation. It also plans to conduct verification experiments.

http://www.env.go.jp/en/laws/recycle/07.pdf
http://www.env.go.jp/en/laws/recycle/12.pdf
- Japan Achieves High PET Bottle Collection Rate at 61% (Related JFS article)
http://www.japanfs.org/db/861-e
- Almost All Municipalities to Start Sorted Collection of Packaging Waste (Related JFS article)
http://www.japanfs.org/db/1216-e
- 2007 White Paper Focuses on Development of Environmental Technologies (Related JFS article)
http://www.japanfs.org/db/1894-e

Posted: 2008/06/29 11:33:31 AM

TAG Government , Material reduction