Illegal Dumping of Household Appliances - February 2004

Illegal Dumping of Household Appliances - February 2004

From April to September 2003, the Ministry of the Environment collected data from 2,930 municipalities across Japan, revealing that illegal dumping of household appliances is a serious problem, particularly in urban areas such as Tokyo, Osaka, and Aichi. A total of 9,295 air conditioners, 42,065 televisions, 18,911 refrigerators, and 15,659 washing machines were illegally dumped, with air conditioners seeing a significant increase of 639 cases. These appliances contain harmful substances such as refrigerant gases like Freon and lead found in the cathode-ray tubes of televisions, which pose significant environmental risks.

In response to this issue, major recycling companies such as Panasonic (formerly Matsushita Electric Industrial) and Toshiba are enhancing their recycling systems under the Home Appliance Recycling Law. Panasonic, in particular, is promoting proper disposal through services like the "Fluorescent Lamp Safety Service," but illegal dumping recovery remains inadequate in certain regions.

Illegal dumping of household appliances is also affecting rural and river areas, raising concerns over soil and water contamination due to hazardous materials. The Ministry of the Environment is working closely with local governments to implement stricter penalties and clearer recovery routes to prevent illegal dumping. Cooperation with companies to promote recycling is also being actively pursued.