Environment: The Battle over the Definition of Waste - System Review Paves the Way for a Recycling-Oriented Society 2002

Environment: The Battle over the Definition of Waste - System Review Paves the Way for a Recycling-Oriented Society 2002

In 2002, the Central Environment Council compiled a report on the review of the waste and recycling system and recommended major reforms in the definition of waste and the operation of the system. At the time, illegal dumping and disguised recycling were becoming social problems, and improper treatment that abused the distinction between waste and valuable resources was rampant. For example, there was no end to the number of companies that piled up waste that should have been disposed of as "recyclable resources," and the conflict between the Ministry of the Environment, the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry, and industry was intensifying.

The report expands the existing definition of waste to include only unwanted materials and specifies that "recyclable materials that are unwanted" should also be included in waste. This clearly made waste that had been in a gray zone subject to regulation, and was intended to close a loophole for unscrupulous companies. In addition, the committee also proposed the expansion of the "wide-area designation system," which simplifies the permitting procedures for the wide-area transfer of waste, and the "recycling certification system," which eliminates the need for a facility permit based on certification by the Minister of the Environment, and discussed flexible and efficient system design that contributes to a recycling-oriented society.

At the time, Japan's Basic Law for Establishing a Sound Material-Cycle Society (enacted in 2000) was enacted, the Containers and Packaging Recycling Law and the Home Appliance Recycling Law were in full operation, and the recycling policy framework was rapidly being developed. However, while the system was in place, improper disposal and illegal dumping remained a serious problem, and the gap between the system and the frontline was seen as problematic. This report was an attempt to correct such contradictions and rebuild waste administration from the perspective of both "strengthening regulations and rationalization.

This review led to later revisions of the law and provided an opportunity to solidify the foundations of a recycling-oriented society. In the background was not only a growing environmental awareness, but also the need of the times to promote resource recycling while reducing waste disposal costs in the face of economic stagnation, marking a turning point for Japan's environmental policy to advance to a new stage.