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Did you know? Japan's electronic waste recycling rate is so low!
Japan's e-waste problem cannot be ignored. Although Japan was one of the first countries to implement e-waste recycling programs, it still faces serious challenges. As the global demand for electronic products increases year by year, the treatment of electronic waste has become an important issue in the current era. According to a Japanese government report in 2013, approximately 550,000 tons of e-waste were collected and processed, which accounted for only 24-30% of the total e-waste.
Unprocessed e-waste is not only harmful to the environment but also causes potential economic losses because many recyclable materials are wasted.
Much of the e-waste ends up being exported to neighboring countries. By developing new recycling programs, Japan can turn waste into resources while protecting the environment. Disposal of e-waste is not an easy or unsafe task, so Japan has been working for many years to develop safe and effective waste management programs to deal with these e-waste. However, despite efforts, the environmental and health problems caused by e-waste remain serious.
Sources of electronic waste
According to Jim Puckett, executive director of the Basel Action Network, Japan has quickly become one of the most wasteful countries in the world. As the manufacturing and consumption of electronic products increases year by year, the production of electronic waste also increases. Currently, electronic waste in Japan is classified as non-industrial waste, including refrigerators, televisions, air conditioners and washing machines. Electronic waste in Japan can be subdivided into three categories: industrial, non-industrial and hazardous waste according to source, and electronic equipment belongs to non-industrial waste.
Processing method
The home appliance recycling coupon system developed by the Electrical and Household Products Association is the basis for e-waste recycling and processing in Japan. The purpose of this voucher system is to ensure that all parties can smoothly promote recycling within the framework of the Certain Home Appliance Recycling Act (LRHA). There are two types of systems. The first requires consumers to pay recycling and shipping fees to the retailer, and the second requires consumers to pay recycling fees by mail. Consumers typically pay recycling fees of 2,500 to 5,000 yen, and the responsibility for transporting and recycling e-waste falls on the consumer.
Although manufacturers are responsible for setting up their own recycling facilities, the specific methods are not clearly defined, so their responses can be divided into two vague groups.
Current regulations
The legal basis for e-waste recycling in Japan consists of the Law for the Promotion of Effective Utilization of Resources (LPUR) and the Law on the Recycling of Certain Home Appliances (LRHA). LPUR was revised in 2001 to encourage manufacturers to voluntarily participate in recycling and reducing waste generation. The LRHA has been effective since April 1, 2009, and has put forward higher requirements for the recycling efforts of consumers and household appliance manufacturers. This law imposes a tax on all computers as of 2003, except those purchased before that date which can be recycled for a small fee.
Future uses and alternatives
Although Japan has one of the highest recycling rates in Asia, these figures mainly relate to the recycling of plastics, paper and glass. 650,000 tons of household appliances and small electronic products are discarded every year, but less than 100,000 tons are actually collected and recycled. Ideas and initiatives are emerging to fill this huge gap. With the 2020 Olympic Games about to be held in Japan, the proposal to use electronic waste to make gold medals has been proposed. Although the International Olympic Committee requires each gold medal to contain at least six grams of gold, Japan's Olympic Organizing Committee believes that this idea is feasible.
Is it really a status quo that Japan’s e-waste recycling rate is so low that it cannot be changed?
