Illegal Dumping of Abandoned FRP Ships - Japan Nationwide - History and Current Status from 2004 to 2020s

Illegal Dumping of Abandoned FRP Ships - Japan Nationwide - History and Current Status from 2004 to 2020s

FRP (Fiber Reinforced Plastic) pleasure boats have become popular due to their durability and light weight, but their disposal has become an issue: as of 2004, approximately 5,000 boats were disposed of annually, of which approximately 1,000 were illegally dumped along coastal areas and riverbanks. Illegal dumping has a serious impact on the environment, and the deterioration of marine ecosystems and the destruction of landscapes have become problematic.

In response, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism (MLIT) began designing a system to promote recycling of FRP scrapped ships. Improvements were made in dismantling and crushing technologies and the construction of dedicated recycling facilities. In addition, a campaign to prevent illegal dumping was launched in cooperation with local governments, and a system to require ship owners to pay a portion of the recycling costs was also considered. However, ensuring the profitability of the recycling business was an issue, and while progress was made in developing technologies for reusing waste FRP as building materials and fuel, widespread adoption took time.

In the 2010s, the movement to solve the FRP scrapping issue gained further momentum: in 2015, the "National Council for Promotion of FRP Scrapped Ship Recycling" was established and industry-wide efforts were made to address the issue. Specifically, the technology for crushing used FRP has been greatly improved, and the use of FRP as recycled material for road paving and construction materials has increased. In addition, the government expanded subsidies for the disposal of end-of-life vessels to a maximum of 500,000 yen per case, and developed model projects in cooperation with local governments. As a result, as of 2018, the appropriate treatment rate for FRP scrapped vessels reached 65%, but about 35% (about 1,750 vessels per year) were still untreated or illegally dumped.

In the 2020s, it is reported that of the approximately 6,000 vessels disposed of annually, approximately 800 vessels are being dumped illegally without proper treatment. In response, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) has established more than 10 new dedicated dismantling facilities across Japan, making it possible to treat more than 2,000 scrapped vessels per year. Furthermore, companies such as Mitsubishi Chemical and Sumitomo Chemical have developed chemical recycling technologies, and efforts are underway to reuse waste FRP as building materials and fuel.

In addition, municipalities along the Seto Inland Sea coast will enact the "Seto Inland Sea Abandoned Vessel Management Ordinance" in 2020, requiring notification of owners and introducing penalties. This has resulted in an annual decrease of more than 10% in the number of abandoned vessels. On the other hand, the average disposal cost of more than 200,000 yen per vessel continues to be an issue.

Internationally, sharing of scrapped ship recycling technology is underway with neighboring countries such as South Korea and the Philippines, etc. The FRP scrapped ship issue is positioned as part of the reduction of marine plastics and is an important issue for the protection of the marine environment. While technological innovations and institutional strengthening have led to certain improvements, the situation still calls for cost reductions and increased owner awareness.