Innovation in PCB Removal Technology - March 15, 1998-present

The use of a special polymer material, "polynorbornene," in PCB removal technology has achieved significant cost reductions and improved efficiency compared to conventional methods. Polynorbornene has a far superior ability to adsorb polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) compared to other polymer materials, and it has been confirmed that adsorbed PCBs do not re-dissolve.

This technology involves adding a small amount of polynorbornene to water containing PCBs to efficiently remove the PCBs. While traditional treatment methods cost 25,000 yen per ton, this new treatment method can reduce costs to below 3,000 yen. Additionally, the space required for treatment is reduced to one-fourth of the conventional method, and the treatment time is reduced to one-fifth, further improving operational efficiency.

This technology is expected to play a critical role in PCB treatment within Japan. It is particularly noteworthy as an effective treatment method for dealing with the corrosion and leakage of PCB-containing drums that have exceeded their storage life. Furthermore, the polynorbornene-based treatment method offers advantages over incineration, including lower environmental impact and the avoidance of dioxin generation.

As this technology becomes more widespread, it may influence international PCB treatment standards, not just within Japan. The Ministry of the Environment and related companies are expected to further promote the practical application and dissemination of this technology, representing a crucial step toward solving the PCB problem.

### Current Status in the 2020s

The status of PCB removal technology in the 2020s has seen significant progress due to advances in technology and strengthened regulations.

### Technological Advances
1. **Widespread Adoption of Advanced Treatment Technologies**:
- In Japan, **Mitsubishi Materials** has commercialized PCB removal technology using polynorbornene and other new adsorbent materials, deploying it nationwide. This technology has been implemented in treatment facilities in **Chiba Prefecture** and **Osaka Prefecture**, enabling efficient and low-cost treatment.
- In the **United States**, environmental services company **Clean Harbors** uses similar technology to treat PCB waste, with facilities in **New York State** and **California** utilizing it.

2. **Introduction of New Technologies**:
- Research on PCB degradation technology utilizing nanotechnology is being conducted by **Fujitsu Laboratories** in Japan, with tests for practical application being carried out in **Kawasaki City**. Additionally, **Bayer** in **Bavaria, Germany**, has developed bioremediation technology for use in the treatment of PCB-contaminated soil.

### Strengthening of Regulations and Management
1. **Strengthening of International Regulations**:
- Under the Stockholm Convention, regulations on the use and disposal of PCBs have been strengthened in many countries. In Japan, the Ministry of the Environment is leading efforts to complete PCB waste treatment by 2025, with large-scale treatment projects underway at facilities in **Hokkaido** and **Aichi Prefecture**.
- In **Canada**, **GFL Environmental** operates a specialized PCB treatment facility in **Ontario**, contributing to nationwide PCB disposal efforts.

2. **Improvement of Management Systems**:
- In Japan, the management and tracking systems for PCB waste have been strengthened, with proper treatment being ensured at facilities in **Tokyo** and **Nagoya**. This ensures that the process from storage to treatment is strictly managed.

### Challenges and Future Outlook
1. **Existence of Untreated PCBs**:
- In emerging markets like **India** and **Indonesia**, untreated PCBs still pose environmental risks. In these countries, inadequate treatment infrastructure necessitates international support. For example, in **Mumbai, India**, PCB treatment is lagging, leading to a collaborative project between the local government and **Clean Harbors**.

2. **Establishment of Sustainable Treatment Technologies**:
- In Japan, **Hitachi Ltd.** has developed new PCB treatment technologies that are low-cost and environmentally friendly, with implementation ongoing at treatment facilities nationwide. In the **Kyushu** region, Hitachi's technology is currently being applied. Additionally, **RWE** in Germany is working on improving PCB treatment technologies with the aim of expanding across Europe.

### Conclusion
PCB removal technology in the 2020s has made significant progress due to technological innovations and strengthened government regulations, but challenges remain in certain regions. Moving forward, international cooperation and further advancement in technology will be key to achieving sustainable environmental protection.

The rise of green consumers to create new markets

● Changes in the general consumer's consciousness the environmental business market in Japan is expanding to all industries through the first, second and third sectors, and is developing autonomously to all participatory markets. The market breakdown is divided into public demand and private demand, but the main line is the demand of civilian companies. But the consumer market is expected to expand. The traction is the presence of green consumers. This is a new type of consumer group that takes care of the environment in order to purchase products. The ratio of Greenkoshama in the Japan is slightly about 3, 4% of all consumers, but it is increasing with jiwari every year. Especially after the 2011 3/11 and the Great East Japan earthquake, the general consumer is interested in the natural environment, life including humans, food safety and security, energy problems, etc., and the life which suppresses waste in the recession wind Green consumers are increasing mainly in urban areas. Old news belongs, but here are the findings of recent consumer awareness. The survey was conducted by Dentsu in April 2014 on "consumer awareness of environmental issues". In response to a number of questions about social issues of interest, the "environmental issues" ranked first at 69, 1% higher than the previous year's 3.5 points. First place in six consecutive years since the start of the study in 2008. The second place was "natural disasters." In the question of environmental awareness, 65 and 5% answered that "consideration of environmental issues and life can be compatible". 3.7 points yoy. It has shown steady growth in the last five years from 2009 (55 ・ 9%). In terms of living, we have reached 88% of the total effort to conserve electricity and save money. In the future, even if the price is somewhat high, the growth related to housing facilities and household energy systems has been prominent in the environment-friendly products and services we want to use.

● Principles of consumption behavior standards for green consumers the change in the consciousness of such a general consumer has brought change to the shopping behavior at the time of the commodity purchase. What is the change? It is close to the forecast, but is it likely to see a lot of common part with "consumption behavior" of green consumers? So, when we look at the standards we have in mind when we purchase products from green consumers, it's like this. The key is to choose the right quality and price, but it is important to choose the products and services that are less environmentally and energy-intensive, and those who will strive to provide them with priority purchase.

It is said that there are 13 principle standards.

Specifically, there are the following criteria.
(1) Buy only what you need at the time of purchase, and refrain from buying anything extra.
(2) Choose a long life that can be used even if you think the price is high.
(3) Minimize containers and packaging materials and avoid excessive packaging.
(4) Purchase products that are less wasteful of resources and energy at the time of production, use, and disposal.
(5) When using household appliances etc., choose priority based on those with low power consumption.
(6) Purchase products that are harmful to the environment and have less health hazards.
(7) Select and buy things that do not impair the ecosystem and biodiversity.
(8) Select the products produced and manufactured in the neighborhood.
(9) Share resources and choose what you can share jointly.
(10) Buy what the product is distributed in the relationship between the producer and the consumer is visible.
(11) Select the one that the producer is guaranteed a fair allotment of profit etc.
(12) We will work diligently to improve the environmental impact and select companies and stores that disclose environmental improvement information.

(13) Select companies and stores that are considering the realization of a sustainable society for the next generation and the current generation of developing countries, etc.

The expansion of such a new green consumer will encourage the provision of environmentally-priced products to companies that produce and manufacture goods or sell products. It is a big business opportunity for companies to provide environmental products that change the consumer (consumers) as a result.

The amount of waste plastic processing is increased to six times the current 1999.08.15

In April 2000, the Ministry of the Container Packaging Recycling Act has been summarized to estimate the expected amount of waste plastic containers and packaging to be approximately 120,000 tons. The amount that is being re-commercialized now is 2-3 million tons a year. The estimated amount of potential in fiscal 2000 is about half that of the blast furnace, but in some areas where blast furnaces are not available, plastic raw materials, ammonia and other chemical ingredients are promising.

The key to success in environmental business 1998.11.15

The number of people gathering in environmental business seminars is increasing. Sometimes more than 200 people are not uncommon. I feel the heat like never before. The question that we often receive from people we meet at the venue is "what is the secret of the success of environmental business?" I always answer as follows:

(1) to start a business rooted in the region.
(2) Strong commitment to the environment of business operators.
(3) It is necessary to have soft ideas that are not hard.
(4) It is a proposal-based business.

The reason for (1) is to maintain and preserve the natural environment in a resource-recycling-oriented society, and to make appropriate efforts by local units. For example, if waste recycling is recycled, waste materials from the region will be separated, collected, and recycled, and utilized in the region. This is an ideal approach to a recycling-oriented society of the region. In a word, it is an environmental problem solving type business from the region. (2) Business operators are asked to have high awareness and beliefs about the environment. It serves as a radar to catch the global flow of the environment, the movement of the industry, the policy and measures of the administration, and becomes a clue of the business opportunity. (3) There are over 800 items of environmental business. The whole thing is not a field of the hard system, and there are many to count the soft system field. With a little eye, you can make a change in your ideas. In addition, the idea is to extend the work of remedying. (4) Since the environmental business is part of the business to improve the environment of the region, it arises from the active proposal activity to the prefecture and the municipality. While environmental measures in the region will be strengthened in the future, each countermeasure may be subject to environmental business. It is essential to obtain a machine and make a business proposal. As a feeling, the environmental business is the sign of the takeoff finally toward "high growth" next year.

Six laws concerning circular economy 2000.10.15

Since the establishment of the "Basic Environmental law," which is said to be the constitution of the Environment in 1993, the Law for environmental laws has been steadily underway, and the following six laws have been enacted in the normal diet.

①The Basic Act on promotion of recycling-oriented society (enforced in June 2006).
②The Amended Waste Treatment Act (Ministry of Health and Welfare in April 2001).
③Effective use of resources (environmental agency, Ministry and Ministry of Health and Welfare in January 2001).
④Building Materials Recycling Act (Ministry of Construction in November 2000).
⑤Act on the recycling and promotion of food resources (Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in April 2001)
⑥Green Purchasing Act (Enforcement of the environmental Agency in April 2001).

The ordinance of the municipality is newly institutionalized, and it is revised. Both trends are closely related to the business opportunity of the environmental business or the construction of an environmental management system, and the factors that make major changes.

Therefore, it is important for each business operator to understand the contents of the necessary laws and to constantly check their movements. Then, there is the use of the internet first of all how to obtain it. We examine public information such as the Council of Environment-related councils, examination sessions, and research meetings of ministries. Other information by newspapers and magazines, national and local libraries, etc. The Official Gazette, the guidance through economic organizations (industrial associations, the Chamber of Commerce, the Chamber of Commerce, etc.), and briefings by government agencies (prefectures and municipalities) are effective as sources of information.

On the other hand, we want to use the latest version of laws and regulations related to environment. It is convenient because it is replaced when the statute collection of the addition type is revised. In addition to domestic regulations, we also want to watch the laws of developed countries. Since the legal system of this country is followed by a lot of developed countries, it is possible to advance ahead and advance the dominant approach by catching information from developed countries at an early stage.

ESCO and the resource company business 1999.05.15

In the Environmental business field, energy conservation and resource-related business are likely to stand up. In the energy saving business, various technologies, products, and services related to energy saving and power saving are born to promote the rationalization of the use of energies. In Europe and the United States, it is called the Energy Service Company (ESCO) business, and it is in full swing as a business to provide the facilities, technology, manpower, and funds to enable energy saving and power saving for existing construction and factories.

In the Japan, it is commercialized for the enterprise, and energy saving and the power saving equipment are becoming popular gradually in the general process. The resource Service company business related to the resource saving if you want there is a business that such a ESCO business leads to energy saving, and it is not amusing to be commercialized in earnest. It is a support business that re-emphasizes production-oriented social structures and is a "resource saving" type. For each company and local government, we have developed a small amount of high-value-added products, the development of recycled resource-based product, the resource procurement of products, and the consulting of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for all production, distribution, consumption and disposal. It can be said that this is a comprehensive project to promote resource saving such as introduction of recycling technology and clustering of wastes.

This business is in full swing to promote resource saving and recycling technology. Japan imports vast amounts of natural resources from overseas and exports them to foreign countries as processed goods. Therefore, it is discharged to a large amount of waste and domestic. 2.2 billion tonnes of resources flowed in 1996. Of these, 1.29 billion tons are discharged after becoming new stock, such as civil engineering buildings, but only 230 million tons of recycled materials are used. Less than 900 million tonnes of waste are required, and the industrial wastes, 50 million tons, are general waste. The resource company business inevitably comes into view in the drastic improvement of the resource problem.

Food waste, thinned wood and branch materials as biomass energy 2001.05.20

Biomass energy has been attracting attention as a new energy source as a waste treatment. Biomass is the idea of an organic organism as an energy resource, in addition to plant resources, such as human waste urine, garbage from plants and animals, etc. are also included. The use of biomass energy, which is currently considered, is based on incineration heat utilization, gasification by pyrolysis, methane fermentation, and alcohol fermentation. As for the use technology, the use of heat by direct incineration and the methane fermentation of organic wastes has been put into practical use, but in the food factory, the case of adopting methane fermentation technology is increasing in response to the food waste recycling law.

Approximately 2.7 billion yen has been organized for the development and dissemination of biomass energy in the environment-related budget of the country in fiscal 2001. On the other hand, the Ministry of Health, Labour and welfare has processed human waste and raw garbage, and launched the "Sludge Regeneration treatment center Concept" to recycle methane gas and compost, and issued a subsidy only for the recycling type of new human waste treatment facilities from fiscal 1998. Therefore, the municipality is looking for a mechanism that can recycle from both sides of the garbage disposal and human waste processing.

In addition, the "Renewable Energy Promotion Law" under consideration for legislation is also touted to promote the dissemination of solar and wind power and biomass energy. 19 million tons of food waste per year, and waste material discarded from construction sites is 17 million tons annually. Only biomass resources that are currently being treated as waste rise to this amount. In addition, the forest area of the current Japan is about 25 million hectares. The forest resources that grow over the years are about 100 million cubic meters Sweden. According to assets such as ministry, the Japan has been left in mountainous areas for about 6 million cubic meters of thinned wood and branch materials. We consider these to be energy resources, and if we plan to proceed deforestation and reforestation, we can diversify energy sources and preserve forests. It also leads to the promotion of forestry, which is declining steadily.

Forest conservation Business 2002.01.15

The forest conservation business is likely to broaden its horizons. The domestic forest is rundown if it says. The devastation of forests, such as non-disruptive reforestation, no-consideration felling and which remains management, is a great sight. There was a great miscalculation of the forest business in the background. Timber and valves are supplied from overseas at cheap prices, and the forest business has been destroyed. However, the faint light that the forest business seemed to be approved as a business with economic incentives began to see. There are several reasons. First, green GDP has begun to embrace environmental demands within the coefficient of GDP (gross domestic product), an international economic indicator. For example, if you cut the forest and export it overseas, GDP will rise. The cost of the destruction of the ecosystem due to the soil outflow and the deforestation and the increase of CO2 does not appear in GCP by it. Considering the negative impact on the environment, we will try to look at the traditional GDP. In addition, forest conservation and ISO14000-based forest certification system for the suppression of CO2 close relation the emissions trading system. It is impossible to ask the hey, that and the cheap forest resource to foreign countries as far as this international flow is read.

Therefore, the efforts of effective use of the domestic forest cannot be avoided. How do you give vitality to the forest business which is scarce in economy and human resources? It is the construction and the engineering-related business that the management ability is going to appear as this supporter. Forest management trial with new economic incentives such as forest conservation and accompanying management, energy recovery from wood-based wastes such as thinned timber, promotion of building materials use, and emissions trading. There was nothing. The word of the kelp fisherman of the collar woman sprays cape that changed the Cape woman sprays the rich forest and regained the great Sea. "It is not that it only has to think about the sea because we are fishermen, and the sea is rough when the mountain is rough. I think so from the core of the head. " I want it to be the starting point of our business.

Eco Town Business 2002.06.15

"By supporting the development of a leading recycling facility centered on private business operators, the eco-town business will continue to be actively developed as a national policy for the purpose of supporting the creation of zero waste cities and fostering environmental industries as a new industry." The Eco-town business represents the largest rate of growth in the distribution of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and industry in this year. 8 billion yen for the previous fiscal year to 1.3 billion yen.

In the name of the "subsidy for resource recycling area promotion facility maintenance fee", the main business contents of this year are "subsidies for recycling facilities such as recycling facilities such as PET bottles, waste plastics, waste wood, etc." The eco-town business has been certified by 15 locations nationwide. I hear that we are currently preparing to apply for eco-town projects in 50 locations and regions. Among them, the first "Toyama City Eco-town plan" in Hokuriku, which was recognized by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Ministry of the Environment, cut the top of this year. The contents of the business are recycled into raw materials such as container packaging plastics, plastic processing and waste plastics generated in agriculture. The left is about oil processing. We promote "hybrid waste plastic recycling," which is used within the region without waste.

In addition, we recycle construction waste into high value-added building materials, and businesses that are used by local house manufacturers. If you look at the eco-town business outline of the application plan, we will promote modal shift to rail & Ship (rail & Shipping) to build a network of venous logistics, as well as waste materials and service recycling, medical waste and PCB detoxification, The introduction of natural energy. In the future, the eco-town business will accelerate to the realization of a regional recycling-oriented society. It is certain that the first environmental business will be created in the region, but the challenge will be to continue as a profitable business.

Business of coordinating waste (mediation and intermediary) 2000.07.15

The new business which promising the coordination (mediation) of the waste to work is made to the recycling of waste materials. It is the service which supplies the waste discharged from each business place as a valuable thing to each business place necessary as a resource. In addition, it is asked to secure the necessary waste material, and the case to collect it. When we consider a finite resource problem, the enter into business is being established as a resource for each industry. On the internet site across the sea, you can see the case of waste trading before. It is common sense to think that waste is no longer a "second resource" or "Recycling resource." In the first diet, we started a basic recycling-based society bill, and each law circulated in five Fields was promulgated. We expect to work as an economical incentive to the effective use of waste products. The idea of using wastes discharged from various business activities as resources as the sophistication of the scientific approach to recycling and the precise matching of supply and demand has progressed, the expansion of a new business that is not a conventional waste disposal industry is inevitable. The emergence of such a business model has begun to play a part in the development of the regional circulation type Society and the revitalization of the local industry in various places now. The company's cluster of waste recycling is not only able to reduce the cost of waste disposal in individual companies, but also to reduce production costs and profit by taking advantage of waste. Since the rising price of virgin resources is expected in the future, recycling of waste is not only a consideration for resources and the environment, but also a close-up of the management strategy as an important issue. As a result, the waste coordinator gets an important position. There is a ESCO business in the energy field, but there may be a resource Service company business in a broader sense, including a waste coordinator.

Waste paper stock decreased by three consecutive months 1998.09.15

Domestic stock of old paper is decreasing trend. According to the Kanto paper raw materials and Commerce Union, the end of July inventory of the Kanto District is 61409 tons, down 3.1% compared with the previous month. The low level since the end of June 1996 with a decline of three consecutive months. Although it is a factor that the waste paper wholesaler is put power to export for the Korea and the Taiwan, the stock ratio (the proportion of stock to the shipment of the wholesaler) is 24.8%, and 15% of the level that is appropriate is still exceeded.

Environmental business that expands in multi-disciplinary environment business

<Development to all industries and all participatory businesses. >

The market size of our environmental business is steadily expanding. According to the Ministry of the Environment, the market size of 2016 was approximately 104 trillion yen, with a capacity of approximately 2.6 million employees. The market size is evident in comparison to the market size of approximately 65 trillion yen (2016) of the automobile industry, which is always attracting attention, and the construction industry of 45 and 5 trillion yen (2015).
You can understand how huge industrialization is. In the media, the energy-related reports of nuclear power plants, such as renewable energy, Smartgrit, Smart House, and eco-cars, etc. are noticeable, but the environmental business is more broadly and deeply The market is steadily expanding. It is made in the form of expanding the base of each industry greatly.

For example, in the primary industry of agriculture, forestry, livestock, and fisheries, biomass resources began to be utilized, recycling of organic wastes, permanent agriculture based on organic farming, building materials using domestic materials and thinning materials, etc., sunlight, wind, and local consumption Small hydro power generation, and the like. In manufacturing, construction, and mining, the second industry manufactures and sells a variety of renewable energies, energy saving, environmental equipment and equipment, storage batteries, fuel cell devices, etc., and the construction industry is environmentally friendly building construction, building waste recycling, etc. In the mining industry, in addition to the recycling business of waste appliances and waste automobiles, recently, businesses such as collecting and recycling rare metals such as electronic and information devices are expanding. It seems that the second industry now has more than 60% of the market size in the mainstream of environmental business. In the tertiary industry, which consists of electricity, gas, distribution, and financial services, there are a wide range of green consulting fields, including renewable energies, business proposals for energy conservation, distribution of environmentally friendly products, and environmental advertising. In recent years, businesses such as the Building Energy Management System (BEMS) and the HEMS (Home Energy Management System) have been expanding. In this way, the environmental business has evolved into all-in-all business, and the number of participating companies exceeds 10,000, and the business item rises to 900, and the steady growth factor is concealed here.

Waste paper stock decreased by three consecutive months 1998.09.15

Domestic stock of old paper is decreasing trend. According to the Kanto paper raw materials and Commerce Union, the end of July inventory of the Kanto District is 61409 tons, down 3.1% compared with the previous month. The low level since the end of June 1996 with a decline of three consecutive months. Although it is a factor that the waste paper wholesaler is put power to export for the Korea and the Taiwan, the stock ratio (the proportion of stock to the shipment of the wholesaler) is 24.8%, and 15% of the level that is appropriate is still exceeded.

Main factors of eco business market growth①

The domestic environmental business market currently has 10,000 companies, and business items are expanding to around 900 and all industries. They are all part of the participatory aspect.

That is one of the growth factors of the market.

　Four entry forms for entering the market. The first is "greening the production line". That is, the production line or energy saving, not to discharge the waste as much as possible from the production line, also aims to recycle, and the like to prevent water pollution with not out the sewage outside. In this effort, each company has a large number of environmental engineering department, which has zero emissions, energy saving, and emission control of hazardous substances, and it is not uncommon for major companies to spin it off. And, the business to sell the green technology, the know-how and the experience that it created here to the other companies is not to have begun now.

The second is "greening existing products". Products that are currently traded in the world are rapidly advancing green. These days, low-pollution automobiles and energy-saving consumer electronics products are natural. In other words, we create environmentally friendly products such as energy saving and resource saving of conventional products, adoption of recycled materials, and suppression of use of hazardous substances. Thus, the load on the environment can be further reduced.

The third is the application of "core technology (business) to environmental technology (business)". This is a common case for small and medium-sized businesses, and it is our stance to apply the core and elemental technology accumulated in our company to environmental technologies. The result is, for example, making a recycling device. The case where the solar cell was made by Si (silicon) which was the leading part of the semiconductor is mentioned as a typical example.

And the fourth is "M&A (Mergers and Acquisitions), a patent takeover." This is a case in which a company buys another company which is good at environmental technology, and as a result of the acquisition, the acquisition of related patents becomes a powerful weapon in the business entry. Recently, Panasonic, a manufacturer of energy-saving home appliances, has acquired Sanyo Electric, a typical example. Sanyo Electric is known as a manufacturer of rechargeable batteries such as lithium-ion batteries. For example, considering the use of natural power to accumulate unstable renewable energy in the storage battery, it is expected to be a significant demand for M&A.

A city mine (urban mine) is a treasure trove of rare metals... 2

"The way of recycling rather than foreign resource acquisition"

Smart the road of recycling than the acquisition of resources overseas-the gold contained in the phone and game consoles, etc. is 0.3%. On the other hand, it is said that the amount of harvesting from the natural ore 1 ton is 3-5%. The ratio is about 0.0003%. Other metals with high depletion are also gradually decreasing. The reason is that the ore with a lot of content is decreasing because it takes too much. Based on the current situation, eyes are on the effective use of urban mines where the amount of sampling is reliable. Moreover, it leads to the prevention of the pollution and the health damage of a local resident by the harmful substance to the environment by a large-scale mining, and the hazardous material at the time of harvesting.

But hear the voices of Shing from the industry and some of the scholars. "Natural ore cannot be won in terms of cost". As a matter of fact, technology to lower the recycling costs of gold and silver and other rare metal recoveries is advancing rapidly. In the environment business, "recycling is a manufacturing industry with waste materials" and from the point of view, there are few successful cases where metal recovery from urban mines is a business. As a guide of Yokohama Metal, Tanaka Precious metals has expanded its base in earnest.

Urban mining is reusing, recycling and rebuilding raw materials from (the electrical and electronic waste of) the city.

The recycling network of waste as the corporate collaboration 1998.10.15

The new business to mediate and mediation waste is promising for the recycling of waste materials. It is a service industry which provides the waste discharged from each company as a valuable thing to each enterprise necessary as a resource. They are also asked to secure the necessary waste and collect them even out of work. The brokerage and mediation business of such waste is approved by each industry.In America, large-scale waste is bought and sold on the Internet, and waste is no longer considered as a "second resource and raw material", and the mediation and mediation market for it is expanding.

In Japan, for example, if you could squeeze Kasuya of juice, collect apple skins, and reuse raw materials for candy and cakes. In addition, the wood scrap and the old material are the fiber board to the furniture maker if it relates to housing. In addition, many advanced examples can be seen in the field of waste water and scrap metal. The point is that the idea of using waste as a resource is the construction of a network of resources for recycling and supply. These cases are seen in a relatively small number of small business businesses, but they are being held in large-scale cases these days.


The recycling network of waste is also formed in the corporate collaboration of clusters (cluster = bunches, clumps, herds). A cluster is an attempt to increase its potential by collaborating with several companies on an industrial activity that has been completed within a company. In other words, waste is used as a raw material among several companies. Companies can reduce the cost of waste disposal and reduce production costs by effectively taking advantage of waste. It can be said that recycling of waste is not only a consideration to the environment but also a useful method in the management strategy because the price rise of the resource is forecast in the future. As a matter of doing so, the intermediary and mediation of wastes occupy an important position.

Green Plastic as an eco-material in Europe

Gradually the penetration of European consumer goods manufacturers is taking a big helm in the use of plant-derived plastics and recycled plastics. In the Japan, there is excessive coverage of the efforts of the de-oil-based plus chick about the drinking straw and the container etc. which are mass consumption and a large amount of waste in the food service industry. It seems that the clue is finally opened, but in Europe overseas, the material changes in consumer goods, The efforts of the oil-based plastics have already begun to move in earnest. <!--more--> For example Denmark major toy manufacturers have introduced plant-derived polyester products, which are made from sugarcane for the first time in the company. We are currently selling Lego block plants from plants in the form of grass and trees for a limited time, but the policy is to expand it to all products. In addition, the sneaker manufacturer Adidas is not using the new material from plants, but rather crisis it with recycled materials from polyester materials. We sold 100 pairs sneakers with recycled polyester for 17 years. It is a full-scale switching policy in 24 years. By the way, about 40% of clothing is used for recycled goods. "The cost is one to two percent higher, but the priority is to reduce the environmental impact" is practiced in the products sold. The tendency to choose products and invest in the consumer, the manufacturer, and the investor based on the consideration of the environment is spread before. It is said that it will be possible to reuse and to recover all plastic by 30 years.

Expanding renovation, repair and renovation markets ②

The renovation and renovation work commonly referred to as renovation and renovation work, the Building Standards Act is called "large scale renovation work" and "large scale makeover". It is a construction to restore the performance and the quality by using the same shape, the same size, and the same material for one or more of the main structural parts of the building (wall, pillar, floor, beam, roof or stairs) Though it is "large scale repair work". On the other hand, the construction to restore the performance and the quality of one or more of the main structural parts of the building is changed by different specifications, and says "large scale remodeling". The health and environmental impact of dilapidated buildings that require renovation and renovation is also great. Significant health damage due to formaldehyde (one of the causative substances of Sick House syndrome) and asbestos (substances that cause lung cancer, malignant mesothelioma, etc.) contained in building materials, paints, and heat islands due to the increase of concrete buildings and buildings in urban areas Various problems such as the waste of energy when using a building are actualized. The renovation and renovation of the building structure, maintenance of the function, of course, to improve the load of health and environment, and to provide a comfortable life of the people living there, also play a role to enhance the asset value by adding a variety of functions to the building. In the future, the demand for renovation and renovation of large-scale facilities (public facilities, hotels, ryokans, etc.) has been growing every year, as well as the dilapidated apartment houses built after the high economic growth period and thereafter. The local con in the region dedicated to the business development of the new field advancement began to move to the order in this field starting a major general contractors.

The return of Minamata disease - Marine pollution of plastic waste becomes serious 2

increase 500 billion copies a year. The pet bottle is consumed one million per minute as a beverage container. In developed countries, the aim is to stop using plastic straws and to improve recycling, but these disposable products are only 9%. Efforts have been made to reduce disposable plastics over and over again, but the status quo continues to increase rather than decrease. The shopping bag used in the convenience store has increased recently, too. Though it is a developing country to put out a lot of plastic garbage, China which has imported the waste plastic of the developed country up to now also started the restriction. In addition to the measures of only one country in the developed countries, as well as global warming measures, it is now being demanded by the world-wide approach. From the conventional petroleum-based plastic as a part of the plastic waste measures the creation chance of new industry of green PLA, the movement of promoting the use of paper and biodegradable plastic (green plastic) derived from natural plants has come out. In the development of new materials, Japan of the world's top runners, material development makers are facing a big business opportunity. Eco-friendly green plastic technology has already been seen as standby. The scale of GDP (gross national product) competing on the extension of human desires is at a marginal value. There were countries that had previously cut down tropical forests and exported timber to expand their GDP. On the other hand, countries that have reduced green and forest resources have long stalled in the country's power. We are now seeking to break away from the conventional supremacy of GDP.

Food waste, thinned wood and branch materials as biomass energy 2001.05.20

Biomass energy has been attracting attention as a new energy source as a waste treatment. Biomass is the idea of an organic organism as an energy resource, in addition to plant resources, such as human waste urine, garbage from plants and animals, etc. are also included. The use of biomass energy, which is currently considered, is based on incineration heat utilization, gasification by pyrolysis, methane fermentation, and alcohol fermentation. As for the use technology, the use of heat by direct incineration and the methane fermentation of organic wastes has been put into practical use, but in the food factory, the case of adopting methane fermentation technology is increasing in response to the food waste recycling law.

Approximately 2.7 billion yen has been organized for the development and dissemination of biomass energy in the environment-related budget of the country in fiscal 2001. On the other hand, the Ministry of Health, Labour and welfare has processed human waste and raw garbage, and launched the "Sludge Regeneration treatment center Concept" to recycle methane gas and compost, and issued a subsidy only for the recycling type of new human waste treatment facilities from fiscal 1998. Therefore, the municipality is looking for a mechanism that can recycle from both sides of the garbage disposal and human waste processing.

In addition, the "Renewable Energy Promotion Law" under consideration for legislation is also touted to promote the dissemination of solar and wind power and biomass energy. 19 million tons of food waste per year, and waste material discarded from construction sites is 17 million tons annually. Only biomass resources that are currently being treated as waste rise to this amount. In addition, the forest area of the current Japan is about 25 million hectares. The forest resources that grow over the years are about 100 million cubic meters Sweden. According to assets such as ministry, the Japan has been left in mountainous areas for about 6 million cubic meters of thinned wood and branch materials. We consider these to be energy resources, and if we plan to proceed deforestation and reforestation, we can diversify energy sources and preserve forests. It also leads to the promotion of forestry, which is declining steadily.