Japan has several laws and regulations on tackling marine plastic debris.
The Basic Environmental Law (Law No. 91 of 1993) includes the responsibility of corporations to dispose of waste. Article 8(2) states: ‘In manufacturing, processing or selling products, or engaging in other business activities, corporations are responsible for taking necessary measures for ensuring proper disposal of the wastes generated from products and other goods related to their activities, so as to prevent interference with environmental conservation, pursuant to the basic principles.’ In support of this, the national government shall facilitate such efforts. Article 23(2) states: ‘The State shall take necessary measures to promote projects which contribute to prevent interference with environmental conservation, i.e. the construction of public facilities such as sewerage, public waste disposal facilities, traffic facilities (including transportation facilities) which contribute to reduce the environmental load, and other projects such as improvement of forests.’
The Basic Act on Ocean Policy (Act No. 33 of 27 April 2007) emphasises the formulation of the Basic Plan on Ocean Policy. A responsibility of the national government, the Basic Plan on Ocean Policy shall prescribe the basic policy of measures and the measures that the government shall comprehensively and systematically implement with regard to the oceans (Article 16). The Basic Plan on Ocean Policy shall also adopt the principle of marine conservation, including securing ocean biodiversity by preventing the discharge of waste into the ocean (Article 18).
The Act on Promoting the Treatment of Marine Debris Affecting the Conservation of Good Coastal Landscapes and Environments to Protect Natural Beauty and Variety (Act No. 82 of 15 July 2009) sets the basic principles for measures required for the smooth treatment of marine debris and control of its generation. Article 17 states that any coast manager or possessor of coastal land that is not a coast manager must take measures required for the treatment of marine debris in maintaining the cleanliness of coastal land under their management. The measures must involve the cooperation of the prefectural government in terms of technical advice and other support, and of the municipal government as necessary. The revision of this Act was promulgated in June 2019, encouraging business owners to refrain from using microplastics in products (including microbeads) that could leak into rivers, areas of public waters, or areas of the sea (Government of Japan, 2019).
Japan imposes several laws and regulations that apply the concept of reduce, reuse, and recycle (3Rs) and extended producer responsibility (EPR). Table 1 summarises the measures related to 3Rs and EPR in each law and regulation.
Table 1. Laws and Regulations Related to 3Rs and EPR
Law and Regulation | Measure |
|---|---|
Act on the Promotion of Effective Utilisation of Resources (Act No. 48 of 26 April 1991) | Establishment of standards for labelling specified labelled products such as steel cans, aluminium cans, PET bottles, paper containers and packaging, plastic containers and packaging, compact rechargeable batteries, and PVC construction materials. Labelling shall further facilitate sorted collection. |
Business operators and consumers shall rationalise use of containers and packaging by using recyclable containers and packaging and reducing the excessive use of containers and packaging. They shall also promote the sorted collection of waste containers and packaging as well as recycling that conform to the standards. The national government shall fund, collect, and conduct research and development and public campaigns through education and relevant activities. The local government is responsible for carrying out sorted collection of waste containers and packaging in each area of municipal government, providing technical assistance (by prefectural government, for municipal government), and promoting the reduction of waste containers and packaging. | |
Act on Recycling of Specified Home Appliances (Act No. 97 of 5 June 1998) | Retailers and manufacturers shall be responsible for collecting and recycling home appliances such as air conditioners, CRT-type televisions, refrigerators, washing machines, freezers (added in 2004), flat-screen televisions (added in 2009), and clothes dryers (added in 2009). |
The Basic Act for Establishing a Sound Material-Cycle Society (Act No. 110 of 2000) | Establishment of a recycling-based society to realise a society that can develop sustainably as it develops a sound economy with a minimised environmental load, through voluntary and proactive actions based on technological and economic potential. |
Act on Recycling, etc. of End-of-Life Vehicles (Act No. 87 of 12 July 2002) | Vehicle manufacturers must promote long-term use of vehicles, facilitate recycling, among others, of end-of-life vehicles, and reduce the expenses required to recycle, among others, end-of-life vehicles. |
Recycling of small electrical and electronic equipment, (excluding home appliances specified in the Act on Recycling of Specified Home Appliances (Act No. 97 of 1998) whose use has been terminated. |
Source: Government of Japan (1991, 1995, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2012).
Japan passed the Act on Promotion of Resource Circulation for Plastics in June 2021. Expected to take effect by 1 April 2022, the act aims to take measures to promote resource circulation for plastics, targeting all entities involved in the entire life cycle of plastic-containing products, from design to waste disposal. The measures will fall into five key aspects:
Guidelines for design of plastic-containing products
Rational use of specified plastic-containing products
Sorted collection and recycling by municipalities
Collection and recycling by manufacturers, sellers, and other businesses
Waste reduction and recycling by waste-generating businesses.
Government of Japan (1991), Act on the Promotion of Effective Utilization of Resources (Act No. 48 of April 26, 1991). http://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/law/detail/?id=80&vm=04&re=01 (accessed 10 December 2019).
Government of Japan (1993), Basic Environmental Law (Law No. 91 of 1993). https://www.ecolex.org/details/legislation/basic-environmental-law-law-no-91-of-1993-lex-faoc004747/ (accessed 21 November 2019).
Government of Japan (1995), Act on the Promotion of Sorted Collection and Recycling of Containers and Packaging (Act No. 112 of June 16, 1995). http://extwprlegs1.fao.org/docs/pdf/jap82815.pdf (accessed 21 November 2019).
Government of Japan (1998), Act on Recycling of Specified Home Appliances (Act No. 97 of June 5, 1998). https://www.meti.go.jp/policy/it_policy/kaden_recycle/en_cha/pdf/english.pdf (accessed 25 November 2019).
Government of Japan (2000), The Basic Act for Establishing a Sound Material-Cycle Society (Act No. 110 of 2000). https://www.env.go.jp/en/laws/recycle/12.pdf (accessed 25 November 2019).
Government of Japan (2002), Act on Recycling, etc. of End-of-Life Vehicles (Act No. 87 of July 12, 2002). http://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/law/detail/?ft=1&re=02&dn=1&x=58&y=15&co=01&ia=03&ja=04&ky=vehicle+recycling+law&page=3 (accessed 25 November 2019).
Government of Japan (2007), Basic Act on Ocean Policy (Act No. 33 of April 27, 2007). http://extwprlegs1.fao.org/docs/pdf/jap75593.pdf (accessed 21 November 2019).
Government of Japan (2009), Act on Promoting the Treatment of Marine Debris Affecting the Conservation of Good Coastal Landscapes and Environments to Protect Natural Beauty and Variety 2009 (Act No. 82 of July 15, 2009). http://extwprlegs1.fao.org/docs/pdf/jap174308.pdf (accessed 21 November 2019).
Government of Japan (2012), Act on Promotion of Recycling of Small Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (Act No. 57 of August 10, 2012). http://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/law/detail/?ft=1&re=02&dn=1&x=0&y=0&co=01&ia=03&ja=04&ky=electrical+and+electronic&page=11 (accessed 25 November 2019).
Government of Japan (2019), Changes to the basic policy for comprehensively and effectively promoting measures against beach wreckage (in Japanese). https://www.env.go.jp/hourei/05/000222.html (accessed 21 April 2021).
Government of Japan (2021), Cabinet Decision on the Bill for the Act on Promotion of Resource Circulation for Plastics. https://www.meti.go.jp/english/press/2021/0309_001.html (accessed 6 December 2021).
Japan has several laws and regulations on tackling marine plastic debris.
The Basic Environmental Law (Law No. 91 of 1993) includes the responsibility of corporations to dispose of waste. Article 8(2) states: ‘In manufacturing, processing or selling products, or engaging in other business activities, corporations are responsible for taking necessary measures for ensuring proper disposal of the wastes generated from products and other goods related to their activities, so as to prevent interference with environmental conservation, pursuant to the basic principles.’ In support of this, the national government shall facilitate such efforts. Article 23(2) states: ‘The State shall take necessary measures to promote projects which contribute to prevent interference with environmental conservation, i.e. the construction of public facilities such as sewerage, public waste disposal facilities, traffic facilities (including transportation facilities) which contribute to reduce the environmental load, and other projects such as improvement of forests.’
The Basic Act on Ocean Policy (Act No. 33 of 27 April 2007) emphasises the formulation of the Basic Plan on Ocean Policy. A responsibility of the national government, the Basic Plan on Ocean Policy shall prescribe the basic policy of measures and the measures that the government shall comprehensively and systematically implement with regard to the oceans (Article 16). The Basic Plan on Ocean Policy shall also adopt the principle of marine conservation, including securing ocean biodiversity by preventing the discharge of waste into the ocean (Article 18).
The Act on Promoting the Treatment of Marine Debris Affecting the Conservation of Good Coastal Landscapes and Environments to Protect Natural Beauty and Variety (Act No. 82 of 15 July 2009) sets the basic principles for measures required for the smooth treatment of marine debris and control of its generation. Article 17 states that any coast manager or possessor of coastal land that is not a coast manager must take measures required for the treatment of marine debris in maintaining the cleanliness of coastal land under their management. The measures must involve the cooperation of the prefectural government in terms of technical advice and other support, and of the municipal government as necessary. The revision of this Act was promulgated in June 2019, encouraging business owners to refrain from using microplastics in products (including microbeads) that could leak into rivers, areas of public waters, or areas of the sea (Government of Japan, 2019).
Japan imposes several laws and regulations that apply the concept of reduce, reuse, and recycle (3Rs) and extended producer responsibility (EPR). Table 1 summarises the measures related to 3Rs and EPR in each law and regulation.
Table 1. Laws and Regulations Related to 3Rs and EPR
Law and Regulation | Measure |
|---|---|
Act on the Promotion of Effective Utilisation of Resources (Act No. 48 of 26 April 1991) | Establishment of standards for labelling specified labelled products such as steel cans, aluminium cans, PET bottles, paper containers and packaging, plastic containers and packaging, compact rechargeable batteries, and PVC construction materials. Labelling shall further facilitate sorted collection. |
Business operators and consumers shall rationalise use of containers and packaging by using recyclable containers and packaging and reducing the excessive use of containers and packaging. They shall also promote the sorted collection of waste containers and packaging as well as recycling that conform to the standards. The national government shall fund, collect, and conduct research and development and public campaigns through education and relevant activities. The local government is responsible for carrying out sorted collection of waste containers and packaging in each area of municipal government, providing technical assistance (by prefectural government, for municipal government), and promoting the reduction of waste containers and packaging. | |
Act on Recycling of Specified Home Appliances (Act No. 97 of 5 June 1998) | Retailers and manufacturers shall be responsible for collecting and recycling home appliances such as air conditioners, CRT-type televisions, refrigerators, washing machines, freezers (added in 2004), flat-screen televisions (added in 2009), and clothes dryers (added in 2009). |
The Basic Act for Establishing a Sound Material-Cycle Society (Act No. 110 of 2000) | Establishment of a recycling-based society to realise a society that can develop sustainably as it develops a sound economy with a minimised environmental load, through voluntary and proactive actions based on technological and economic potential. |
Act on Recycling, etc. of End-of-Life Vehicles (Act No. 87 of 12 July 2002) | Vehicle manufacturers must promote long-term use of vehicles, facilitate recycling, among others, of end-of-life vehicles, and reduce the expenses required to recycle, among others, end-of-life vehicles. |
Recycling of small electrical and electronic equipment, (excluding home appliances specified in the Act on Recycling of Specified Home Appliances (Act No. 97 of 1998) whose use has been terminated. |
Source: Government of Japan (1991, 1995, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2012).
Japan passed the Act on Promotion of Resource Circulation for Plastics in June 2021. Expected to take effect by 1 April 2022, the act aims to take measures to promote resource circulation for plastics, targeting all entities involved in the entire life cycle of plastic-containing products, from design to waste disposal. The measures will fall into five key aspects:
Guidelines for design of plastic-containing products
Rational use of specified plastic-containing products
Sorted collection and recycling by municipalities
Collection and recycling by manufacturers, sellers, and other businesses
Waste reduction and recycling by waste-generating businesses.
Government of Japan (1991), Act on the Promotion of Effective Utilization of Resources (Act No. 48 of April 26, 1991). http://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/law/detail/?id=80&vm=04&re=01 (accessed 10 December 2019).
Government of Japan (1993), Basic Environmental Law (Law No. 91 of 1993). https://www.ecolex.org/details/legislation/basic-environmental-law-law-no-91-of-1993-lex-faoc004747/ (accessed 21 November 2019).
Government of Japan (1995), Act on the Promotion of Sorted Collection and Recycling of Containers and Packaging (Act No. 112 of June 16, 1995). http://extwprlegs1.fao.org/docs/pdf/jap82815.pdf (accessed 21 November 2019).
Government of Japan (1998), Act on Recycling of Specified Home Appliances (Act No. 97 of June 5, 1998). https://www.meti.go.jp/policy/it_policy/kaden_recycle/en_cha/pdf/english.pdf (accessed 25 November 2019).
Government of Japan (2000), The Basic Act for Establishing a Sound Material-Cycle Society (Act No. 110 of 2000). https://www.env.go.jp/en/laws/recycle/12.pdf (accessed 25 November 2019).
Government of Japan (2002), Act on Recycling, etc. of End-of-Life Vehicles (Act No. 87 of July 12, 2002). http://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/law/detail/?ft=1&re=02&dn=1&x=58&y=15&co=01&ia=03&ja=04&ky=vehicle+recycling+law&page=3 (accessed 25 November 2019).
Government of Japan (2007), Basic Act on Ocean Policy (Act No. 33 of April 27, 2007). http://extwprlegs1.fao.org/docs/pdf/jap75593.pdf (accessed 21 November 2019).
Government of Japan (2009), Act on Promoting the Treatment of Marine Debris Affecting the Conservation of Good Coastal Landscapes and Environments to Protect Natural Beauty and Variety 2009 (Act No. 82 of July 15, 2009). http://extwprlegs1.fao.org/docs/pdf/jap174308.pdf (accessed 21 November 2019).
Government of Japan (2012), Act on Promotion of Recycling of Small Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (Act No. 57 of August 10, 2012). http://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/law/detail/?ft=1&re=02&dn=1&x=0&y=0&co=01&ia=03&ja=04&ky=electrical+and+electronic&page=11 (accessed 25 November 2019).
Government of Japan (2019), Changes to the basic policy for comprehensively and effectively promoting measures against beach wreckage (in Japanese). https://www.env.go.jp/hourei/05/000222.html (accessed 21 April 2021).
Government of Japan (2021), Cabinet Decision on the Bill for the Act on Promotion of Resource Circulation for Plastics. https://www.meti.go.jp/english/press/2021/0309_001.html (accessed 6 December 2021).
