Current State and Issues of Illegal Waste Export - January 2000

Current State and Issues of Illegal Waste Export - January 2000

Illegal export of waste from Japan has become a serious issue since the late 1990s, particularly with the illegal export of plastic waste and used electronic equipment (e-waste). From 1998 to 1999, approximately 12000 tons of plastic waste were illegally exported from Japan to Southeast Asian countries, leading to a rapid expansion of environmental issues. Most of this waste was exported in an unrecyclable state and was either burned or landfilled without proper treatment.

Malaysia and the Philippines became the primary destinations for these exports. In 1999, approximately 1500 hectares of land in Malaysia were contaminated with plastic waste illegally imported from Japan, causing health problems for around 3000 residents. In the Philippines, about 2500 tons of plastic waste were illegally imported from Japan in 1999, left untreated, and dumped, severely impacting the environment and public health.

As for illegal export of electronic equipment, large amounts of devices containing PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) and lead were exported. In Vietnam and Indonesia, about 60% of the e-waste imported from Japan was improperly treated, leading to severe soil and water contamination and increasing health risks for local populations.

In response, Japan's Ministry of the Environment strengthened enforcement measures against illegal exports in 2000. In 1999, "Recycle Japan Co., Ltd." was caught illegally exporting about 8000 tons of plastic waste to Malaysia and was fined over 100 million yen. In 2020, approximately 5000 tons of plastic waste were found to have been illegally exported to the Philippines, and the companies involved were fined and had their business operations suspended.

Internationally, the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes has also been strengthened, and Japan has been working to prevent illegal waste exports under this framework. However, as of 2020, about 30% of the illegally exported waste remains untraceable, highlighting the need for further strengthening of domestic waste management systems and stricter export monitoring.