A Gap Analysis in Selected Asian Countries, 3R Knowledge Hub ...

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3R Gap Analysis and Findings
MSW Composition in Japan
Source: www.3rkh.net
URBAN MUNICIPAL WASTE
Over 51 million tons of municipal waste
contributes to the waste stream, at an average
generation rate of nearly 1.14 kg/capita/day.
The waste is segregated into general waste and
recyclable waste and is collected separately.
The collected general waste is sorted as
combustible and bulky. While the combustible
waste is sent directly to waste incinerators, the
bulky items are compacted before they are sent
to the waste incinerators . At the incinerators,
the waste is burnt under controlled conditions
and energy is recovered from the heat
generated. The waste reduced to ash, is then
disposed at a landfill site.
Estimates show that landfill sites in Japan will
last only another 12 years with current
municipal waste generation patterns. As a
result, Japan is forced to recover a variety of
materials through kerbside recycling collection
schemes, recovery of recyclable ferrous metals
from bulky waste items and through electrical
appliance recycling (where televisions,
refrigerators, washing machines and computers
are recovered for recycling).
Considering the growing need to accelerate
recycling as a means of solving the waste
management crisis, the Government of Japan
established Eco-Towns in 1997.
MSW Disposal in Japan
Source: www.3rkh.net
In addition, various laws emphasizing recycling
and reuse were enacted. As a result, the actual
amount of waste to landfills has been greatly
reduced after 2000, and Japan was able to
achieve the highest level of resource
productivity.
Findings
Before the creation of eco-towns and the
enactment of recycling and reuse oriented laws,
general waste was classified as combustible,
noncombustible, bulky and recyclable and
treated separately. Incineration and landfills
were the most preferred modes of disposal, thus
creating problems of growing shortage of
landfill sites. There has been reduction in waste
sent to landfills since 1990 due to promotion of
the legislation “Fundamental Law for
Establishing a Sound Material-Cycle Society”.