PWMI NewsletterNO

46 2017.4

Plastic Waste Management InstituteJAPAN

Plastic Products, Plastic Waste andResource Recovery [2015]
Background information and notes on the publication of the
Flowchart of Plastic Products, Plastic Waste and Resource
Recovery (2015)
T h e P l a s t i c Wa s t e M a n a g e m e n t I n s t i t u t etaking hold. Resin production increased slightly(PWMI) conducts a variety of annual surveys incompared with 2014 signaling a clear end to therelation to plastic waste including questionnaires

drop in resin production that began in 2010 and aon recycling figures, surveys on plastic waste

turn toward positive growth. Nevertheless, itdischarge, surveys targeting local governments,

remains about 4,000 kt short of the 2007 leveland surveys on industrial waste. The results ofprior to the Lehman Brothers collapse (Lehman

these surveys are processed together with various

Shock).

types of statistical data to produce and release the

The Industrial Structure Council and Central

Flowchart of Plastic Products, Plastic Waste andEnvironmental Council in Japan make periodic

R e s o u r c e R e c ove r y o n a y e a r l y b a s i s . T h i s

inspections of recycling-related laws centeredflowchart serves as quantitative material for Japan

about Japan’s Basic Law for Establishing thein the form of a macro flow covering the annual

Recycling-based Society, but this year saw no

production of plastic, the use and discarding ofchanges that could have a major quantitative

plastic products, and the manner in which

impact on the flow of plastic recycling.

discarded plastic is disposed and recovered for

We continue to study ways of improving thereuse as a resource.

accuracy of this material flowchart, but as there are

Japan in 2015 made substantial progress in

no changes worthy of mention at this time, we

beating deflation and reviving the economy withprepared this year’s flowchart according to thethe result that a gradual economic recovery issame method as last year.

2015 Highlights(1) Resin production increased by 250 kt (+2.3%) relative to 2014. On the other hand, domestic plastic products
consumption decreased by 130 kt (-1.3%).
(2) Total plastic waste discharge decreased by 110 kt (-1.1%) relative to the previous year to 9,150 kt.
(3) Effectively used plastic waste decreased by 50 kt (-0.7%) relative to the previous year to 7,630 kt keeping theeffective plastic utilization rate the same at 83%.
In 2015, resin production increased slightly fromto 5,210 kt (-130 kt; -2.4%).

the previous year to 10,860 kt (+250 kt relative to

The percentage contributions to the effective

2014; +2.3%). In addition, resin export increased toplastic utilization rate by mechanical recycling,

3,850 kt (+330 kt; +9.5%). Resin import, productfeedstock recycling, and energy recovery were 22%,

export, and product import, meanwhile, decreased to4%, and 57%, respectively, indicating that the overall

2,470 kt (-150 kt; -5.8%), 790 kt (-20 kt; -2.4%), andplastic utilization rate remained the same as the

1,900 kt (-70 kt; -3.6%), respectively. As a result,previous year at 83%.

domestic plastic products consumption decreased to
9,640 kt (-130 kt; -1.3%).

Exports of plastic waste for mechanical recycling
showed a decrease to 1,450 kt (-60 kt; -3.8%). In

Total plastic waste discharge decreased slightly toaddition, reclaimed products (domestic) increased

9,150 kt (-110 kt; -1.1%). This result can be broken

together with a decrease in exports owing to adown into domestic (general) plastic waste at 4,350

corrected value for “plastic scrap” in last year’s trade

kt (-80 kt; -1.7%) and industrial plastic waste at

statistics.

4,800 kt (-30 kt; -0.6%).
As for disposal and recovery methods, mechanicalrecycling increased to 2,050 kt (+60 kt; +3.0%) andfeedstock recycling *1 increased to 360 kt (+20 kt;+5.5%). Energy recovery*2 in total decreased slightly*1: feedstock recycling = blast/coke furnaces + gasification +liquefaction*2: energy recovery = densified-refuse derived fuel and cement
material/fuel + incineration with power generation +incineration with heat utilization facility

Explanation of flowchart items(1) Resin production, resin processing,and marketing of products・ This figure was prepared by the Ministry of Economy, Tradeand Industry (METI) on the basis of chemical-industry
statistics.

processing waste) – (reclaimed products)} – {(product export) –(product import)}
・ Resin export and import figures are based on trade statistics
from the Ministry of Finance.
・ Figures for liquid resin, synthetic fiber, etc. that fall outside
plastic waste discharge are based on chemical-industry statistics
from METI.

1-2 Reclaimed products・ Figures for plastic product export and import are based on trade

1-1 Resin production

・ For convenience sake, the figure used here is that of mechanicalrecycling at the previous year taking figures for export andimport of plastic waste into account (Ministry of Finance, trade
statistics).

1-3 Domestic plastic products consumption・ (domestic plastic products consumption) = (resin production) –{(resin export) – (resin import)} – (liquid resin, etc.) – {(resin

2

statistics from the Ministry of Finance.
・ Figure for resin processing waste is discharged waste from theprocessing step that is not turned into products.

1-4 Domestic plastic input・ (domestic plastic input) = (domestic plastic products
consumption) – {(exported plastic parts from assembled
products) – (imported plastic parts from assembled products)}

・ Assembled products: automobiles, home appliances (televisions,refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, washing machines anddryers)・ Number of exported/imported assembled products: Automobile
figures are based on Monthly Motor Vehicle Statistics of Japan
from Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA);
home appliance figures are based on “Current Production
Statistics” from Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry(METI).

(2) Discharge
2-1 Post-use products discharge
・ This figure is calculated by an estimation system developed by
PWMI based on usage quantities by demand-generating fields
and by resin type (usage quantities have been calculated
annually from 1976) and on product lifetimes by demandgenerating fields (using a PWMI 60-year discharge model).
・ Since the export of used automobiles affects the amount ofplastic waste in Japan, corrections are made to plastic waste
discharge in the transport industry. Here, the number of usedautomobiles is based on “number of post-use automobiles”
issued by JAMA and the number of exported used automobiles
is based on data released by Japan Automobile Dealers
Association (JADA).
・ Discharge ratios for domestic waste and industrial waste havebeen estimated using a PWMI discharge model by demandgenerating fields.

2-2 Production and processing waste discharge
・ Amount of resin production waste is not included in amount of resin
production, and amount of resin production waste and amount of resin
processing waste are estimated using each predefined waste ratio.

2-3 Total plastic waste discharge・ (total plastic waste discharge) = (post-use products discharge) +(resin production waste) + (resin processing waste)

2-4 Breakdown of total plastic waste discharge by resin
type
・ These breakdown figures were estimated from amounts of postuse products discharge, production and processing waste
discharge, resin production, etc.

(3) Disposal and recovery
3-1 Mechanical recycling
・ Figures for the mechanical recycling of domestic plastic waste
are based on the weight of collected PET bottles (The Council
for PET Bottle Recycling) and weight of collected white trays(Japan Plastic Food Container Industry Association), andfigures for the mechanical recycling of other plastic containers
and packaging are based on data released by The Japan
Containers And Packaging Recycling Association. Residual
amounts after the mechanical recycling of other plastic
containers and packaging will be allocated to densified-refuse
derived fuel and other items using as coefficients figures
released by The Japan Containers and Packaging Recycling
Association.
・ Total figures and breakdowns for the mechanical recycling ofindustrial waste are extrapolated from the results ofquestionnaires sent to recycling companies. Production waste
and processing waste are taken to be the total of mechanicalrecycling.
・ “Recycled material” indicates pellets, flakes, fluff, blocks, andingots, while “recycled products” refer to film sheets, stakes,
pipes, etc. other than the above.
・ The export figure under “destination of recycling use” formechanical recycling is based on “scrap plastic” statistics from
Ministry of Finance trade figures.

3-2 Densified-refuse derived fuel, blast-furnace/coke-oven
raw materials, gasification, liquefaction
・ Figutures for densified-refuse derived fuel includes plastic
waste for power generation; figures for densified-refuse derived
fuel and cement kiln fuel are based on the results of surveys
targeting industry associations.
・・With respect to domestic waste, figures for blast furnace raw
materials, coke-oven chemical materials, gasification, andliquefaction approved as product recycling methods by theContainers and Packaging Recycling Law are based on data
released by The Japan Containers And Packaging Recycling
Association.
With
respect to industrial waste, these figures are based on the・results of questionnaires.

3-3 Disposal and recovery of domestic waste
・ Incineration/landfilling ratio
This ratio is determined from the results of past PWMI surveys
based on the “FY2014 Nation Survey on the State of Discharge
and Treatment of Municipal Solid Waste” of the Ministry of theEnvironment.
・ Incineration with power generation / incineration with heatutilization“Incineration
with power generation” means incineration
・
processing by an incinerator equipped with power-generation
facilities and “incineration with heat utilization” means
incineration processing by an incinerator that, while notequipped with power-generation facilities, has facilities forutilizing heat externally. The ratios shown are determined by
PWMI surveys based on values released by the Ministry of theEnvironment.

3-4 Disposal and recovery of industrial waste
・ D i s p o s a l a n d r e c ove r y o f i n d u s t r i a l wa s t e i s p a r t i a l l ycommissioned to local governments as business-related waste.
The ratio of such processing by business operators to thatcommissioned to local governments is determined on the basis
of PWMI surveys. The percentage breakdown of commissioned
processing into incineration with power generation, incineration
with heat utilization facility, incineration without power
generation or heat utilization facility, and landfilling is based on
figures for domestic waste processing.
・ The incineration/landfilling ratio in the processing of industrial
waste is based on the latest survey conducted by PWMI in fiscal
year 2013. The energy recovery rate in incineration by power
generation, etc. is taken to be the same as the results of previous
surveys conducted by PWMI in fiscal years 2006/2008.
・ Figtures for incineration with power generation includes plastic
waste traded for a price.

PWMI Newsletter 3

Flowchart of plastic products,
plastic waste and resource recovery
2015[ Unit; kt（thousand tons）]
Resin production, resin processing, and marketing of products

Discharge❶
Resinproduction

Resinexport10,8603,850
Resinimport2,470❷

Domestic
plastic products
consumption

9,640

Domestic Plastic
input

Use

9,310

Post-use
products
discharge

8,430

Note 3

Product
export790❸

pl

Product
import1,900
Liquidresin,etc.

810
Resin
processing
waste

550

Production
andProcessing
waste

Non-use

Production
andProcessing
waste discharge

720
Note 1Resinproduction
waste

170
Reclaimed
products

400

Note 2

Note 1: Resin production does not include the quantity shown for resin production waste
Note 2: The quantity shown this year for reclaimed products is based on that of mechanicalrecycling from the previous year (1,990 kt) excluding exported portion (1,510 kt) andthe amount used for fiber from PET bottles (90 kt).
Note 3: The figure for post-use products discharge is computed by a PWMI estimation system
based on usage for different demand areas and different resin types (from 1976) andproduct lifetimes for different demand areas (60-years discharge model created by
PWMI).
Note 4: Some figures may not exactly match due to rounding.
※ ❶〜❻ corresponds to the graph of next page.

4

720Disposal and recovery

Domestic waste
Mechanical recycling

670

Liquefaction, gasification, blast furnace

270❹

Domestic
waste

4,350

Densified-refuse derived fuel /cement material and fuel

260

2,000

360
4%

Incineration without power generationor heat utilization facility

Densified-refuse
derived fuel /cement material
and fuel

250

Industrial waste
Mechanical recycling

1,380

Liquefaction, gasification, blast furnace90

Densified-refuse derived fuel /cement material and fuelIndustrial
waste

4,800

2,050
22%

Incineration withheat utilization facility

Landfilling❺

recycling

Liquefaction,
gasification,
blast furnace

630

9,150

※6
❻Mechanical

Incineration with power generation

270

Total
lastic waste
discharge

Sum of waste

1,200

Incineration with power generation

950

Incineration withheat utilization facility

530

Incineration without power
generation or heat utilization facility

240

1,470
16%

Incineration
with power
generation

Utilized
plastic waste

7,630
83%

2,950
32%
Incineration
with heatutilization facility

800
9%Incineration
without power
generation or heatutilization facility

870
10%

Landfilling

650
7%

Non-utilized
plastic waste

1,520
17%

Landfilling

400

PWMI Newsletter 5

Details of flowchart elements（unit：kt（thousand tons））❶ Breakdown of resin production(10,860kt) by resin type

❷ Breakdown of resin products by field(9,640kt)
Others 540 5.6%

Thermosetting
resin
870
Polyethylene
8.0%
Other
2,610
thermoplastic
24.0%
resin
2,020

18.6%

Thermoplastic
resin

Agriculture,
forestry and fishery
Household150 1.5%
articles,etc.
910

9.5%

Containers andpackaging
3,940

Building materials
1,150

11.9%

Polystyrene(including SAN, ABS) 92.0% Polypropylene
2,500
1,210
23.0%
11.2% Polyvinylchloride
1,650

40.9%

Transportation
1,160

12.1%

15.2%

Electric andmachinery
1,780

18.4%

❸ Breakdown of total plastic waste by field and resin type (9,150 kt)
Production andprocessing waste
720
Others
7.9%
520

Others2,100

5.7%

Building
materials
710 7.7%
Householdarticles,etc.
900

9.8%

Containers andpackaging
4,000

Post-use
products

43.7%

92.1%

23.0%

Polyethylene
3,000

32.8%

Polyvinylchloride
780

8.5%

Polystyrene(including SAN, ABS) Polypropylene
2,120
1,140 12.5%

Electric andmachinery
1,720

23.2%

18.7%

Transportration
440 4.8%
Agriculture,forestry and fishery 150 1.6%

(by field)(by resin type)❹ Breakdown of domestic(general) waste
by field (4,350 kt)
Agriculture,
forestry and fishery
0 0.1%

Transportration

0 0.0%

Householdarticles,etc. Production and
110
processing waste
2.2%
720
Others15.0%
260 5.5%

Others260

6.0%Householdarticles,etc.
790❺ Breakdown of industrial waste by field(4,800 kt)

Containers andpackaging
2,970

18.1%

Transportation
440

9.2%

68.3%

Electric
and machinery
250 5.8%
Building materials 70

6Building
materials
640

13.2%

1.6%

Agriculture,
forestry and fishery 150

3.0%Electric andmachinery
1,460

30.5%

Containers
and packaging
1,030

21.4%

❻ Breakdown of mechanical recycling (2,050 kt)○ Breakdown of mechanical recycling resources and resin type

Production andprocessing waste
720

35.0%

PET resin indesignated PET bottle
510

Polypropylene
440

21.6%

25.0%

Post-use products
1,330

65.0%

Polyethylene
330

Others340(containing 670 kt ofpost-use products
from domestic waste)

16.0%

16.8%

Polystyrene(including SAN, ABS)240 11.6%

Polyvinylchloride
190 9.1%○ Breakdown of post-use products for mechanical recycling (1,330 kt)
PET bottles

490

Wrapping film

210
170

Home electric-appliancehousings, etc
Agricultural plastics

80

Expanded polystyrene
packing material, etc

70Electric-wirecovering material

70
60Containers and the like40

Automobile parts

20

Pipes, etc.
Expandedpolystyrene trays

10

Non-PET bottles

10110

Others
0

10

20

30

40

(by type of reclaimed products)

Recycled products
560

27.3%

Recycled material
1,490

72.7%

50

60

70

80

90

100

110

120

130

140

150

160

170

180

190

200

210

220

230

240

480

490

[ thousand tons ]500(by destination of recycling use)

Domestic
530

25.6%

Export
1,450

70.6%

Domestic Fiber(from PET bottles) 80 3.8%

PWMI Newsletter 7

Plastics production and waste discharge
Year

Resin
production

Domestic plastic
products
consumption

Total plastic
waste
discharge

kt /yearkt /yearkt /yearDomestic waste

Industrial waste

kt /year%kt /year

%

1985

9,230

6,990

4,190

2,320

55

1,870

45

1990

12,630

9,990

5,570

3,130

56

2,440

44

1995

14,030

9,790

8,840

4,430

50

4,410

50

1996

14,66010,810

9,090

4,550

50

4,540

50

1997

15,21011,360

9,490

4,780

50

4,710

50

1998

13,910

10,200

9,840

4,990

51

4,850

49

1999

14,57010,810

9,760

4,860

50

4,900

50

2000

14,74010,980

9,970

5,080

51

4,890

49

2001

13,88010,96010,160

5,280

52

4,890

48

2002

13,850

10,570

9,900

5,080

51

4,820

49

2003

13,98011,01010,010

5,130

51

4,880

49

2004

14,46011,360

10,130

5,190

51

4,940

49

2005

14,51011,59010,060

5,200

52

4,860

48

2006

14,450

11,20010,050

5,080

51

4,980

50

2007

14,65011,030

9,940

5,020

51

4,920

49

2008

13,45010,890

9,980

5,020

50

4,960

50

2009

11,210

8,430

9,120

4,440

49

4,680

51

2010

12,700

9,700

9,450

4,590

49

4,860

51

2011

11,590

9,870

9,520

4,650

49

4,860

51

2012

10,540

9,600

9,290

4,460

48

4,820

52

2013

10,600

9,660

9,400

4,540

48

4,860

52

2014

10,610

9,770

9,260

4,420

48

4,830

52

2015

10,860

9,640

9,150

4,350

48

4,800

52
8

Change in Utilized Plastic Waste
by Amount and Rate Over Time
2002

2003

2004

9,900

10,010Utilization
amount(kt)

5,160

Utilizationrate(%)

52

Year
Total Plastic
waste
discharge
(kt)

2005

2006 2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

10,130 10,060

10,050

9,940

9,980

9,120

9,450

9,520

9,290

9,400

9,260

9,150

5,410

5,750

5,820

6,880

6,920

7,330

6,890

7,230

7,440

7,440

7,670

7,680

7,630

54

57

58

69

69

73

75

77

78

80

82

83

83

100

12000

11000

10000

90

9000

8000

80

70

6000

5000
60

4000

3000

50

2000

1000
40

0
2002

2003

Machanical Recycle

2004

2005

2006

Feedstock Recycle

2007

2008

Energy Recovery＊Incineration without power genaration or heat utilization facility

9

2009

2010

2011

Incineration＊

2012

2013

Landfilling

2014

2015

Utilization rate︵％︶utilization rate

︵ kt︶
Disposal and recovery

7000

Business Overview
History
Originally founded in December 1971
as the Plastic Management Research
A s s o c i a t i o n , t h e P l a s t i c Wa s t eManagement Institute (PWMI) received
its current name in July of the following
year as operations expanded. For the last
40 years or so, PWMI has endeavored toresearch and develop technology for the
optimal processing and effective use ofplastic waste and to publicize its findings.
In addition, PWMI has changed into a
general incorporated association as a resultof Laws Related to the Reform of the
Public-Interest Corporations System(enacted in December 2008). As a resultof this change, PWMI’s objectives weren ew l y e s t a b l i s h e d i n A p r i l 2 0 1 3 a s“surveying and researching the recyclingof plastic waste and contributing to a
reduction in environmental load by the
total recycling of plastic, and helping
plastic-related industries to expand theirbusiness soundly and contributing to thecreation of a society capable of sustainablegrowth.”application to carbon footprint systems,
etc. It also works to solve technical issues
so that the effective use of plastic waste
can be evaluated by LCA.
(2) Preparation of the Flowchart of Plastic
Products, Plastic Waste and Resource
Recovery and ongoing improvements to
its accuracy
PWMI strives to obtain a clear understanding of the entire lifecycle of plastic
from its production stage to its disposal
and R&R and to prepare and provide ahighly accurate flowchart of this process.
(3) Support of environmental education
PWMI continues to hold instructor
training courses and on-site classes andworks to raise the level of consciousness
in society regarding the usefulness ofplastic. In addition to holding on-siteclasses on plastic R&R at primary andmiddle schools especially in Japan’s Kanto
region, PWMI will honor as much as
possible requests for instructor training
courses in line with new teachingguidelines and for lectures at universities
specializing in environmental science.

Business Content

Members (as of January 2017)(1)Survey and research the generation,
recycling, and disposal of plastic waste
and promote the appropriate use of plastic
waste through various means including
techniques for evaluating environmental
load(2)Support the education and study of therecycling of plastic and plastic waste andengage in related public relations activities(3)Interface and collaborate with domestic
and foreign institutions in the plastic andplastic-waste industries

Regular members: 17 corporations and 3
organizations
Supporting members: 3 organizations
Regular members
Asahi Kasei Corp.
DuPont-Mitsui
Polychemicals
Co. Ltd.
Auditors
General Meeting
Japan Polyethylene Corporation
Japan Polypropylene Corporation
JNC
Corporation
Board of Directors
Kaneka Corporation
Maruzen Petrochemical Co., Ltd.
Steering Committee
NUC Corporation
Prime Polymer Co., Ltd.
Committee on
Shin Dai-Ichi Vinyl Corporation
General Affairs
Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.
Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.
Committee on Surveys
and Research
SunAllomer Ltd.
Taiyo Vinyl Corporation
Committee
Tokuyama Sekisui Co.,
Ltd. on Public
Relations andEducational
SupportTosoh Corp.
Ube-Maruzen Polyethylene Co., Ltd.

Trade organizations
Japan Petrochemical Industry Association
The Japan Plastics Industry Federation
Vinyl Environmental Council
Supporting members
Japan PET Bottle Association
Japan Expanded Polystyrene Association
Japan PVC Environmental Affairs Council
Directors
Chairman: Tsutomu Tannowa
Vice-Chairman: Mamoru Kadokura
Executive Director: Hisao Ida
Directors: 10
Auditors: 2

Organization
General Meeting

Auditors

Board of Directors

Chai

Vice-Ch

Steering Committee

Executiv

Committee on
General Affairs

Secretar

Activities
The three core activities of PWMI aresummarized below.
(1) Provision of life cycle assessment(LCA) base data and LCA evaluation ofrecycling & recovery (R&R) technologies
PWMI provides scientific and highreliability data for widespread use byrelated industries and general citizens for

Plastic Waste Management InstituteWeb site: http://www.pwmi.or.jp
April 2017 700

10Committee on Surveys
and ResearchCommittee on Public
Relations andEducational Support

Chairman

Advisors

Vice-Chairman

Executive Director

Secretary General
General Affairs and Public
Relations Department
Surveys and Research
Department

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Tel: 81-3-6855-9175~7, Fax: 81-3-5643-8447