Japan at a turning point illuminated by the flames of waste plastic, circa 2003

Japan at a turning point illuminated by the flames of waste plastic, circa 2003

Around 2003, Japan was at a major turning point in terms of both waste disposal and energy policy. The remaining capacity of final disposal sites in the Tokyo metropolitan area and the Kansai region was at a critical juncture, and the conventional method of disposal by landfill itself was approaching its limits. In addition, although several years had passed since the Containers and Packaging Recycling Law was fully enforced, a large amount of waste plastic remained that was difficult to recycle, such as multilayered film and soiled plastic, and it was becoming clear that domestic processing was at an impasse. This was exacerbated by the tightening of restrictions on waste plastic imports by China and Southeast Asia, which resulted in the rapid loss of circulation routes that had previously depended on exports. Under these circumstances, Japan ratified the Kyoto Protocol in 2002 and was required to take immediate action to fulfill its national obligation to reduce CO2 emissio
ns. At the time, wind and solar power still had limitations in terms of cost and scale, and waste power generation, which utilizes existing incineration facilities to generate electricity, emerged as a realistic option. The Ministry of the Environment positioned waste plastic power generation as a pillar of its new energy policy, and set a goal of building 150 facilities nationwide and expanding the total generating capacity to approximately 4 million kilowatts. This policy was a symbolic event in Japan's transition to the next social model, integrating multiple issues: waste administration, energy policy, and the formation of a recycling-oriented society.