PWMI NewsletterNO

47 2018.3

Plastic Waste Management InstituteJAPAN

Plastic Products, Plastic Waste andResource Recovery [2016]
Background information and notes on the publication of the
Flowchart of Plastic Products, Plastic Waste and Resource
Recovery (2016)
The following improvements and assessments

In parallel with this study, we used new data towere performed to improve the accuracy of therevise the domestic/industrial ratio obtained by

Flowchart of Plastic Products, Plastic Waste anddividing “post-use products discharge” into

Resource Recovery.

domestic waste and industrial waste by demandarea and began to apply this new domestic/(1) Revision of the model for product discharge byindustrial ratio this fiscal year.

demand areas( 2 ) A s s e s s me n t o f i n c i n e r a t i o n w i t h pow er“ P o s t - u s e p r o d u c t s d i s c h a rg e ” h a s b e e ngeneration of industrial waste

computed using “domestic plastic input” by

Incineration with power generation of industrial

demand area (annual usage quantities from 1976

waste has been estimated using a coefficient basedon) and a model created by PWMI for producton the results of questionnaires given once every

discharge by demand area.

five years to dischargers of waste. This time, we

The discharge model used up to last year was

conducted separate interviews with resources-

created 20 years ago, and given the possibility thatsaving business operators and confirmed theit was not reflecting actual conditions in recent

suitability of this estimation method.

years, we made some revisions and began to apply
them as a new discharge model this fiscal year.

2016 Highlights(1) Resin production decreased somewhat by 100 kt (-1.0%) relative to 2015. On the other hand, domestic plastic
products consumption increased by 160 kt (+1.7%).
(2) Total plastic waste discharge decreased somewhat by 150 kt (-1.7%) relative to the previous year to 8,990 kt. Of thisamount, effectively used plastic waste came to 7,590 kt resulting in an effective plastic utilization rate of 84%, a onepoint increase relative to the previous year.
(3) The percentage contributions to the effective plastic utilization rate by mechanical recycling, feedstock recycling, andenergy recovery were 23%, 4%, and 58%, respectively. This increase in the effective plastic utilization rate is attributed
to a large increase in energy recovery as in the use of industrial plastic waste for densified-refuse derived fuel andcement material/fuel.
(4) Exports of plastic waste for mechanical recycling continued to decrease falling to 1,380 kt (-70 kt; -4.9%).
Resin production for 2016 decreased somewhat
from the previous year to 10,750 kt (-100 kt relative
to 2015; -1.0%). In addition, resin export, resin
import, and product import increased to 3,960 kt(+110 kt; +2.9%), 2660 kt (+190 kt; +7.5%), and
1,960 kt (+60 kt; +2.9%), respectively, while productexport decreased somewhat to 780 kt (-20 kt; -1.8%).
Domestic plastic products consumption increased
to 9,800 kt (+160 kt; +1.7%). Total plastic waste
discharge, however, decreased slightly relative to theprevious year to 8,990 kt (-150 kt; -1.7%). Thisdecrease can be attributed to revision of the discharge
model as described above.
This figure for total plastic waste discharge can be
broken down into domestic (general) plastic waste
and industrial plastic waste, with the former
decreasing to 4,070 kt (-270 kt; -6.2%) and the latter

increasing to 4,920 kt (+120 kt; +2.4%). Thisdecrease and increase can be attributed to revision of
the domestic/industrial ratio as described above.
As for disposal and recovery methods, mechanicalrecycling increased to 2,060 kt (+10 kt; +0.4%),
feedstock recycling was essentially unchanged at 360
kt (-0 kt; -0.7%), and energy recovery in total
decreased to 5,170 kt (-40 kt; -0.8%). The effective
plastic utilization rate showed little change at 7,590
kt (-40 kt; -0.5%). On the other hand, non-utilized
plastic waste by incineration without power
generation or heat utilization facility or by landfilling
showed a large decrease to 1,400 kt (-120 kt; -7.6%).

*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
1-1 Resin production

・ This figure was prepared by the Ministry of Economy, Tradeand Industry (METI) on the basis of chemical-industry
statistics.

1-2 Reclaimed products

・ 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

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.

・ Figures for plastic product export and import are based on trade
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 METI.

(2) Discharge
2-1 Post-use products discharge

・ This figure is calculated by an estimation system developed by
PWMI based on input by demand-generating fields and by resin
type (usage quantities have been calculated annually from1976) and on product lifetimes by demand-generating fields(using a 2017 PWMI 100-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.
・ Discharge ratios for domestic waste and industrial waste havebeen estimated using a 2017 PWMI discharge model bydemand-generating 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

・ Figures for densified-refuse derived fuel includes plastic waste
for power generation; figures for densified-refuse derived fueland 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 “FY2015 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

・ Disposal and recovery of industrial waste is partiallycommissioned 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.
・ Figures for incineration with power generation includes plastic
waste traded for a price.

PWMI Newsletter 3

Flowchart of plastic products,
plastic waste and resource recovery
2016[ Unit; kt（thousand tons）]
Resin production, resin processing, and marketing of products

Discharge❶
Resinproduction

Resinexport10,7503,960
Resin
import2,660❷

Domestic
plastic products
consumption

9,800

Domestic Plastic
input

Use

9,450

Post-use
products
discharge

8,270

Note 3

Product
export780❸

pl

Product
import1,960
Liquidresin,etc.

810
Resin
processing
waste

550

Production
andProcessing
waste

Non-use

Production
andProcessing
waste discharge

720
Note 1Resinproduction
waste

170
Reclaimed
products

530

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 (2,050 kt) excluding exported portion (1,450 kt) andthe amount used for fiber from PET bottles (80 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 (100-years discharge model created by
PWMI at 2017).
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

680

Liquefaction, gasification, blast furnace

280❹

Domestic
waste

4,070

Densified-refuse derived fuel /cement material and fuel

250

1,850

360
4%

Incineration without power generationor heat utilization facility

Densified-refuse
derived fuel /cement material
and fuel

200

Industrial waste
Mechanical recycling

1,380

Liquefaction, gasification, blast furnace90

Densified-refuse derived fuel /cement material and fuelIndustrial
waste

4,920

2,060
23%

Incineration withheat utilization facility

Landfilling❺

recycling

Liquefaction,
gasification,
blast furnace

560

8,990

※6
❻Mechanical

Incineration with power generation

250

Total
lastic waste
discharge

Sum of waste

1,310

Incineration with power generation

960

Incineration withheat utilization facility

540

Incineration without power
generation or heat utilization facility

240

1,560
17%

Incineration
with power
generation

Utilized
plastic waste

7,590
84%

2,810
31%
Incineration
with heatutilization facility

790
9%Incineration
without power
generation or heatutilization facility

800
9%Landfilling

600
7%

Non-utilized
plastic waste

1,400
16%

Landfilling

400

PWMI Newsletter 5

Details of flowchart elements（unit：kt（thousand tons））❶ Breakdown of resin production(10,750kt) by resin type

❷ Breakdown of resin products by field(9,800kt)
Others 550 5.6%

Thermosetting
resin
900
Polyethylene
8.3%
Other
2,570
thermoplastic
23.9%
resin
1,990

18.5%

Thermoplastic
resin
Polystyrene(including SAN, ABS) 91.7% Polypropylene
2,470
1,180
22.9%
11.0% Polyvinylchloride
1,650

Agriculture,
forestry and fishery
Household140 1.4%
articles,etc.
940

9.6%

Containers andpackaging
4,010

Building materials
1,150

11.8%

40.9%

Transportation
1,180

12.0%

15.4%

Electric andmachinery
1,830

18.7%

❸ Breakdown of total plastic waste by field and resin type (8,990 kt)
Production andprocessing waste
720
Others
8.0%
640

Others
2,220

7.1%

24.7%
Householdarticles,etc.
600 6.7%
Building
materials
630 7.0%

Containers andpackaging
4,070

Post-use
products

45.3%

92.0%

Polyethylene
2,970

33.0%

Polyvinylchloride
690

7.7%

Polystyrene(including SAN, ABS) Polypropylene
2,010
1,090 12.2%

Electric andmachinery
1,820

22.4%

20.2%

Transportation
400 4.4%
Agriculture,forestry and fishery 110 1.2%

(by field)(by resin type)❹ Breakdown of domestic(general) waste
by field (4,070 kt)
Agriculture,forestry Transportationand fishery 0 0.0%

0 0.0%

Agriculture,
forestry and Production andfishery 110 processing waste
2.2%
720

Others260
Householdarticles,etc.
440 10.8%

6.3%

Others380 7.8%
Containers andpackaging
3,170

77.8%

Electric
and machinery
210 5.1%
Building materials 0 0.0%

6

❺ Breakdown of industrial waste by field(4,920 kt)

14.7%

32.8%

Transportation
400 8.1%
Building
materials
630

12.8%

Householdarticles,etc.
160 3.3%

Electric andmachinery
1,610

Containers
and packaging
900

18.3%

❻ Breakdown of mechanical recycling (2,060 kt)○ Breakdown of mechanical recycling resources and resin type

Production andprocessing waste
720

35.0%

PET resin indesignated PET bottle
530

Polypropylene
400

19.6%

25.5%

Post-use products
1,340

65.0%

Polyethylene
330

Others290(containing 680 kt ofpost-use products
from domestic waste)

15.8%

14.1%

Polyvinylchloride
310

15.3%

Polystyrene(including SAN, ABS)
200 9.9%○ Breakdown of post-use products for mechanical recycling (1,340 kt)
PET bottles

500

Wrapping film

210
170

Home electric-appliancehousings, etc.
Agricultural plastics

80

Expanded polystyrene
packing material, etc.

70

Electric-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
490

23.8%

Recycled material
1,570

76.2%

50

60

70

80

90

100

110

120

130

140

150

160

170

180

190

200

210

220

230

240

490

500

[ thousand tons ]510(by destination of recycling use)

Domestic
620

30.0%

Export
1,380

66.8%

Domestic Fiber(from PET bottles) 70 3.2%

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%

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

2016

10,750

9,800

8,990

4,070

45

4,920

55
8

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

2003

2004

Total Plastic
waste
discharge(kt)

10,010Utilization
amount(kt)
Utilizationrate(%)

2005

2006 2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

10,130 10,060

10,050

9,940

9,980

9,120

9,450

9,520

9,290

9,400

9,260

9,150

8,990

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

7,590

54

57

58

69

69

73

75

77

78

80

82

83

83

84

100

12000

11000

10000

90

9000

80
％

7000
70

6000

5000
60

4000

3000

50

2000

1000
40

0
2003

2004

Mechanical Recycle

2005

2006

2007

Feedstock Recycle

2008

2009

Energy Recovery＊Incineration without power genaration or heat utilization facility

9

2010

2011

2012

Incineration＊

2013

2014

Landfilling

2015

2016

Utilization rate

︵ ︶utilization rate

︵ ︶Disposal and recovery
kt

8000

Business Overview
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 were
newly established in April 2013 as“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 2018)(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.

History

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
March 2018 700

10Trade 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

SecretarCommittee 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