PWMI NewsletterNO

44 2015.4

Plastic Waste Management InstituteJAPAN

Plastic Products, Plastic Waste andResource Recovery [2013]
Background information and notes on the publication of the
Flowchart of Plastic Products, Plastic Waste and Resource
Recovery (2013)
Thanks to the Abenomics effect, 2013reflected the results of a “Survey on

saw improvement in many economic

Industrial Plastic Waste Discharge andi n di c a t or s including stock pr i c e s ,Disposal and Recovery” (Large-scaleeconomic growth, corporate performance,

Survey on Industrial Plastic Waste)

and employment. Resin production

conducted in fiscal year 2013 (this wasremained at nearly the same level as 2012,

the fourth of such surveys conducted

and while the drop in resin production

every five years). This survey revealed

that began in 2010 came to a halt, itsthat the incineration/landfilling ratio

current level is still about 4,000 kt short ofchanged from 80/20% to 85/15%

the 2007 level prior to the Lehman

indicating that the landfilling ratio

Brothers collapse (Lehman Shock).

decreased.

In preparing this flowchart for 2013, we2013 Highlights(1) Resin production increased by only 60 kt (+0.6%) relative to 2012, which means that it was essentially the same as
the previous year. Domestic plastic products consumption increased by 50 kt (+0.6%) in step with resin production.
(2) Total plastic waste discharge increased modestly by 110 kt (+1.2%) relative to 2012 to 9,400 kt.
(3) Effectively used plastic waste increased by 240 kt (+3.2%) relative to 2012 to 7,670 kt pushing the effective plastic
utilization rate up to 82%, two points higher than the previous year.
In 2013, resin production remained essentiallyprevious year at 2,030 kt (-10 kt; -0.4%) and that tounchanged from the previous year at 10,600 kt (+60

feedstock recycling*1 decreased to 300 kt (-80 kt;

kt relative to 2012; +0.6%). Resin export, resin-22%). The portion applied to energy recovery*2

import, and product export showed little change fromincreased overall to 5,350 kt (+330 kt; +6.5%).

the previous year at 3,440 kt (+20 kt; +0.5%), 2,460

The percentage contributions to the effective

kt (-20 kt; -0.6%), and 790 kt (-10 kt; -1.0%),

plastic utilization rate by mechanical recycling,respectively. Product import, on the other hand,

feedstock recycling, and energy recovery were 22%,

increased somewhat to 1,930 kt (+50 kt; +2.6%). As

3%, and 57%, respectively, showing that the plastic

a result, domestic plastic products consumption

utilization rate increased by two points overall toincreased to 9,660 kt (+50 kt; +0.6%).

82% relative to 2012.

Total plastic waste discharge showed no major

Exports of plastic waste for mechanical recycling

change at 9,400 kt (+110 kt; +1.2%). It can be broken

were about the same as the previous year at 1,680 kt

down into domestic (general) plastic waste at 4,540(+10 kt; +0.5%).

kt (+80 kt; +1.7%) and industrial plastic waste at
4,860 kt (+30 kt; +0.7%).
Turning to disposal and recovery methods, theportion of total plastic waste discharge applied tomechanical recycling was about the same as the*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, andmarketing of products
1-1 Resin production
This figure was determined on the basis of chemicalindustry statistics from the Ministry of Economy, Tradeand Industry (METI).
1-2 Reclaimed products
For convenience sake, the figure used here as input is thatof mechanical recycling from the previous year taking
figures for export and import of plastic waste into account(Ministry of Finance, trade statistics).
1-3 Domestic plastic products consumption
・(Domestic plastic products consumption) = (Resin

2

production) - (Resin export) + (Resin import) - (Liquid
resin, etc.) - (Resin 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 falloutside plastic waste discharge are based on chemicalindustry statistics from the Ministry of Economy, Tradeand Industry.
・Figures for plastic product export and import are basedon trade statistics from the Ministry of Finance.
・Figure for processing waste considers discharged wastefrom the processing 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 and dryers)
・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 determind by an estimation systemdeveloped by PWMI based on usage quantities by demandgenerating fields and by resin type (usage quantities havebeen calculated annually from 1976) and on productlifetimes by demand-generating fields (using a PWMI
discharge model for the last 60 years)
・Since the export of used automobiles affects the amountof plastic waste in Japan, corrections are made to plastic
waste discharge in the transport industry. Here, the numberof used automobiles 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 indust-rial waste
have been estimated using a PWMI discharge model for
demand-generating fields.
2-2 Production and processing waste discharge
・Amount of production waste is not included in am o u n tof resin production, and amount of processing
waste is extrapolated from the re-sults of questionnaires.
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
for post-use products discharge, production and processing
waste discharge, breakdown of resin production, etc.
(3) Disposal and recovery
3-1 Mechanical recycling
・Figures for the mechanical recycling of domestic plastic
waste are based on the volume of collected PET bottles(The Council for PET Bottle Recycling) and volume ofcollected white trays (Japan Plastic Food Container
Industry Association), and figures for the mechanicalrecycling of other plastic containers and packaging are
based on data released by The Japan Containers And
Packaging Recycling Association. From this year on,
residual amounts after the mechanical recycling of otherplastic containers and packaging will be allocated todensified-refuse derived fuel and other items using figures
released by The Japan Containers and Packaging Recycling
Association as coefficients. (In previous years, residual
amounts were all allocated to landfilling.)
・Total figures and breakdowns for the mechanicalrecycling of industrial waste are extrapolated from theresults of questionnaires sent to recycling companies.
3 - 2 D e n s i fi e d - re f u s e d e r i v e d f u e l , l i q u e f a c t i o n ,gasification, blast furnace raw material
・Figures for liquefaction, gasification, blast furnace raw
materials, and coke-oven chemical materials approved as
product recycling procedures by the Containers andPackaging Recycling Law have been determined on thebasis of bids announced by the Japan Containers andPackaging Recycling Association and results of questionnaires.
・The figure for densified-refuse derived fuel includes
energy recovery as cement kiln fuel and power-generation.
3-3 Disposal and recovery of domestic waste
・Incineration/landfilling ratio
This ratio is determined on the basis of past surveys
conducted by PWMI.
・Incineration with power generation / incineration withheat utilization“Incineration with power generation” means incineration
processing by an incinerator equipped with powergeneration facilities and “incineration with heat utilization”
means incineration proce-ssing by an incinerator that,while not equipped with power-generation facilities, has
facilities for utilizing heat externally. The ratios shown aredetermined by PWMI surveys based on values publishedby the Ministry of the Environment. The announcement ofthese values, by the way, is now made at an earlier date by
the ministry, and this report therefore uses actual values
from the previous fiscal year .
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 to thatcommissioned to local governments is determined on thebasis of PWMI surveys. The percentage breakdown ofcommissioned 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 ofindustrial waste and the energy recovery rate inincineration with power generation are based on the latest
surveys conducted by PWMI in fiscal years 2006/2008.

PWMI Newsletter 3

Flowchart of plastic products,
plastic waste and resource recovery
2013[ Unit; kt（thousand tons）]
Resin production, resin processing, and marketing of products

Discharge❶
Resinproduction

Resinexport10,6003,440
Resin
import2,460❷
Domestic
plastic products
consumption

9,660

Domestic Plastic
input

Use

9,460

Post-use
products
discharge

8,680

Note 3

Product
export790❸

pl

Product
import1,930
Liquidresin,etc.

830
Resin
processing
waste

550
Note 1Resinproduction
waste

Production
andProcessing
waste

Non-use

Production
andProcessing
waste discharge

720

170
Reclaimed
products

280

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 (2,040 kt) excluding exported portion (1,670 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 (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

680
Liquefaction, gasification, blast furnace

260❹

Domestic
waste

4,540

Densified-refuse derived fuel /cement material and fuelt

290

300
3%

Incineration without power generationor heat utilization facility

Densified-refuse
derived fuel /cement material
and fuelt

260

Industrial waste
Mechanical recycling

1,350
Liquefaction, gasification, blast furnace30
Densified-refuse derived fuel /cement material and fuelt

890

Industrial
waste

4,860

2,030
22%

2,030

Landfilling❺

recycling

Incineration withheat utilization facility

690

9,400

※6
❻MechanicalLiquefaction,
gasification,
blast furnace

Incineration with power generation

320

Total
lastic waste
discharge

Sum of waste

Incineration with power generation

1,160

1,180
13%

Incineration
with power
generation

Incineration
with heatutilization facility

970
10%Incineration
without power
generation or heatutilization facility

980
10%
Landfilling

Incineration without power
generation or heat utilization facility

740
8%

300

7,670
82%

3,190
34%

Incineration withheat utilization facility

650

Utilized
plastic waste

Non-utilized
plastic waste

1,730
18%

Landfilling

480

PWMI Newsletter 5

Details of flowchart elements（unit：kt（thousant tons））❶ Breakdown of resin production(10,600kt) by resin type

❷ Breakdown of resin products by field(9,660kt)
Others 480 4.9%

Thermosetting
resin
950
Polyethylene
8.9%
2,630
Other
24.8%
thermoplastic
resin
2,100

19.8%

Agriculture,
forestry and fishery
170 1.7%

Thermoplastic
resin

Polystyrene
91.1% Polypropylene(including SAN, ABS)
2,250
1,190
21.2%
11.2% Polyvinylchloride
1,490

Householdarticles,etc.
870

9.0%

Transportation
1,110

Containers andpackaging
4,200

11.5%

43.5%

Building materals
1,220

12.6%

Electric andmachinery
1,610

14.0%

16.7%

(Source: METI chemical-industry statistics)(Source: estimates from related organizations)❸ Breakdown of total plastic waste by field (9,400 kt)
Production andprocessing waste
720
Others
7.7%
530

Others
2,190

5.7%

23.3%
Building
materals
720 7.7%
Householdarticles,etc.
900

9.6%

Containers andpackaging
4,260

Post-use
products

45.4%

92.3%

Polyethylene
3,070

32.7%
Polyvinylchloride
810

8.6%

Polystyrene(including SAN, ABS) Polypropylene
2,130
1,180 12.6%

Electric andmachinery
1,620

22.7%

17.2%
Transportration
480 5.1%
Agriculture,forestry and fishery 150 1.6%
(by field)(by discharge type)❹ Breakdown of domestic waste by field(4,540 kt)
Agriculture,
forestry and fishery
0 0.1%

Transportration

0 0.0%

Householdarticles,etc. Production and
110
processing waste
2.2%
720
Others14.8%
270 5.5%

Others270

5.9%Householdarticles,etc.
790

17.5%

❺ Breakdown of industrial waste by field(4,860 kt)

Containers andpackaging
3,170

Transportation
480

69.9%

Electric
and machinery
230 5.1%
Building materals 70

6

10.0%

Building
materals
650

13.4%

1.6%
(by resin type)

Electric andmachinery
1,390

28.6%

Container
and package
1,090

22.4%

Agriculture,
forestry and fishery 150

3.1%(by resin type)❻ Breakdown of mechanical recycling (2,030 kt)○ Breakdown of mechanical recycling resources

Production andprocessing waste
720

35.4%

PET resin indesignated PET bottle
520

Polyethylene
390

19.2%

25.7%

Post-use products
1,310

64.7%

Polypropylene390

Others330(containing 680 kt ofpost-use products
from domestic waste)

19.0%

16.4%

Polyvinylchloride
230

11.2%
Polystyrene(including SAN, ABS)
170 8.4%○ Breakdown of post-use products for mechanical recycling (1,310 kt)

500

PET bottles

220

Wrapping film

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

1060

Others
0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

110

120

130

140

150

160

170

180

190

200

210

220

230

240

250

500

510

[ thousand tons ](by type of reclaimed products)(by destination of recycling use)
Domestic
250

Recycled products
450

12.5%

22.4%

Recycled material
1,570

77.8%

Export1,680

83.0%
Fiber(from bottles) 90 4.6%

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

%

1980

7,520

5,520

3,260

1,780

55

1,470

45

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
8

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

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

10,1609,900

10,010

10,13010,06010,050

9,940

9,980

9,120

9,450

9,520

9,290

9,400

Utilization
amount
(kt)

5,130

5,160

5,410

5,750

5,820

6,880

6,920

7,330

6,890

7,230

7,440

7,440

7,670

Utilizationrate(%)

50

52

54

57

58

69

69

73

75

77

78

80

82

Total Plastic
waste
discharge(kt)

Please see the PWMI Web site for detailed data on the production, discharge, reuse, and disposal of plastic products.

100

12000

11000

10000

90

9000

8000

80

70

6000

5000
60

4000

3000

50

2000

1000
40

0
2001

2002

Machanical Recycle

9

2003

2004

2005

Feedstock Recycle

2006

2007

2008

Energy Recovery

2009

2010

Incrinat

2011

2012

Landfilling

2013
Utilization rate︵％︶utilization rate

︵ kt︶
Disposal and recovery

7000

Business Overview
History

its accuracy

Vinyl Environmental Council

Originally founded in December 1971

PWMI strives to obtain a clear

as the Plastic Management Researchunderstanding of the entire lifecycle ofSupporting members
Japan PET Bottle Association

A s s o c i a t i o n , t h e P l a s t i c Wa s t eplastic from its production stage to its

Japan Expanded Polystyrene Recycling

Management Institute (PWMI) received

disposal and R&R and to prepare andAssociation

its current name in July of the following

provide a highly accurate flowchart of thisJapan PVC Environmental Affairs Council

year as operations expanded. For the lastprocess.

40 years or so, PWMI has endeavored to(3) Support of environmental education

Directors
Chairman: Toshio Asano

research and develop technology for the

PWMI continues to hold instructor

optimal processing and effective use of

training courses and on-site classes andExecutive Director: Hisao Ida

plastic waste and to publicize its findings.

works to raise the level of consciousness

Directors: 10

In addition, PWMI re-defined its mission

in society regarding the usefulness of

Auditors: 2

in April 2013 as Through conducting

plastic. In addition to holding on-site

researches relating to cyclical use ofclasses on plastic R&R at primary andplastic aiming to contribute to the

middle schools especially in Japan’s Kanto

reduction of environmental impact throughregion, PWMI will honor as much as

the life cycle of plastic, PWMI wellpossible requests for instructor training

contribute to the construction of acourses in line with new teachingsustainable society as well as healthy

guidelines and for lectures at universities

development of plastic related industries.

specializing in environmental science.

Business Content

Members (as of July 2014)(1)LCA based study on environmental

Regular members: 17 corporations and 3

impact of plastic and its products.

organizations(2)Research and study relating to cyclicalSupporting members: 3 organizations

use of plastic, generation of plastic waste
etc.

Regular members
Asahikasei Chemicals Corporation(3)Enhancing public awareness and

DuPont-Mitsui Polychemicals Co. Ltd.

supporting school education about plastic.

Japan Polyethylene CorporationVice-Chairman: Kenichi Udagawa

Organization
General Meeting

Auditors

Board of Directors

Vice-Ch

Steering Committee

Activities
The three core activities of PWMI are

JNC
Corporation
GeneralMeeting

AuditorsCommittee on Surveys
and ResearchCommittee on Public
Relations andEducational Support

Chairman

Advisors

Kaneka Corporation
Maruzen Petrochemical Co., Ltd.
Board of Directors
NUC
Corporation(LCA) base data and LCA evaluation ofPrime Polymer Co., Ltd.

recycling & recovery (R&R) technologies.

Shin Dai-Ichi Vinyl Corporation
Steering Committee

PWMI provides scientific and high-Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.

reliability data for widespread use by

Sumitomo Chemical Co.,Committee
Ltd. onrelated industries and general citizens for

SunAllomer Ltd.

application to carbon footprint systems,

Taiyo Vinyl Corporation
Committee on Surveys

etc. It also works to solve technical issues

Tosoh Corp.

so that the effective use of plastic waste

Tokuyama Sekisui Co., Ltd.

can be evaluated by LCA.

Ube-Maruzen Polyethylene
Co.,andLtd.
Relations(2) Preparation of the Flowchart of Plastic
Products, Plastic Waste and Resource

Trade organizations
Japan Petrochemical Industry Association

Recovery and ongoing improvements toJapan Plastics Industry FederationVice-Chairman

Executive Director

General Affairs
Secretary Generaland ResearchCommittee on Public
Educational Support

Plastic Waste Management Institute10

Committee on
General Affairs

Japan Polypropylene Corporation(1) Provision of life cycle assessment

April 2015 700

Executiv

Secretarsummarized below.

Web site: http://www.pwmi.or.jp

Chai

General Affairs and Public
Relations Department
Surveys and Research
Department

KAYABACHO SQUARE BLDG.9F 3-7-6 Nihonbashi-Kayabacho,Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-0025 Japan
Tel: 81-3-6855-9175~7, Fax: 81-3-5643-8447