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Illegal Dumping of FRP Vessels - Nationwide in Japan - History and Current Status from 2004 to the 2020s FRP (Fiber Reinforced Plastic) pleasure boats gained popularity due to their durability and light weight, but their disposal has become a significant issue. By 2004, approximately 5,000 boats were being discarded annually, with about 1,000 illegally dumped along coastlines and riverbanks. This illegal dumping caused severe environmental impacts, including the deterioration of marine ecosystems and landscape destruction. In response, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) began designing systems to promote FRP boat recycling. Efforts advanced to improve dismantling and crushing technologies for discarded boats and to establish dedicated recycling facilities. Additionally, campaigns to prevent illegal dumping were conducted in collaboration with local governments, and mechanisms requiring boat owners to bear part of the recycling costs were also c
onsidered. However, ensuring the profitability of recycling operations remained a challenge. While development of technologies to reuse discarded FRP as building materials or fuel progressed, widespread implementation took time.

During the 2010s, efforts to resolve the FRP waste vessel problem intensified. In 2015, the "National FRP Waste Vessel Recycling Promotion Council" was established, advancing industry-wide initiatives. Specifically, shredding technology for used FRP significantly improved, leading to increased cases of its use as recycled material in road paving and construction materials. Furthermore, the government expanded subsidies for vessel disposal to a maximum of 500,000 yen per case and launched model projects in collaboration with local governments. As a result, by 2018, the proper disposal rate for FRP vessels reached 65%. However, approximately 35% (about 1,750 vessels annually) remained untreated or illegally dumped.

Entering the 2020s, with approximately 6,000 vessels scrapped annually, reports indicate around 800 vessels are illegally dumped without proper treatment. In response, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) established over 10 dedicated dismantling facilities nationwide, creating a system capable of processing over 2,000 scrap vessels annually. Furthermore, companies like Mitsubishi Chemical and Sumitomo Chemical have developed chemical recycling technologies, advancing efforts to reuse waste FRP as building materials and fuel. Additionally, municipalities along the Seto Inland Sea enacted the "Seto Inland Sea Waste Vessel Management Ordinance" in 2020, mandating notification obligations for owners and introducing penalties. This reduced the abandonment of waste vessels by over 10% annually. However, the high average disposal cost of over ¥200,000 per vessel remains a persistent challenge. Internationally, efforts are underway to share waste vesse
l recycling technology with neighboring countries like South Korea and the Philippines. The FRP waste vessel issue is positioned as part of reducing marine plastic pollution and is a critical challenge for protecting the marine environment. While technological innovation and strengthened regulations have brought some improvement, the need for cost reduction and increased owner awareness remains unchanged.