Sources: Data for Japan are from the Ministry of the Environment. Data for other countries are from Municipal Solid Waste Management in Asia and the Pacific Islands (2010), OECD Environmental Data Compendium 2006-2008, and China Statistical Yearbooks 1996-2007.

progress in implementing measures for waste and recycling, the volume of municipal solid waste tends to grow little even if per-capita GDP increases. However, some countries with extremely high per-capita GDP also have high volumes of municipal solid waste per-capita. In countries that have vast national land, it is common to dispose of waste inexpensively by transporting it to places far away from residential areas, and therefore efforts to reduce waste have not sufficiently taken root among corporations and citizens in such countries.

In light of this, it is important for developing countries that are anticipating rapid economic growth in the future to learn from Japan how to keep volumes of waste low while their per-capita GDP increases, so as to avoid serious problems of pollution and waste and achieve a sound material-cycle society.

## (2) Current Situation of Waste and Recycling in Developing Countries

Here we will take a look at efforts for waste and recycling in developing countries.

Developing countries that are becoming rapidly in-

dustrialized in recent years, particularly China and India,

are facing pollution and waste management problems

similar to those that Japan experienced during its high

growth phase.

For example, China has a GDP that surpassed that of Japan to become number two in the world in 2010. At the same time, its volume of waste has increased and its volume of municipal solid waste became the largest in the world in 2005. In Beijing, where the population

Photograph 4-2-1 Open-Dumping Disposal Site in a Developing Country

Source: Materials from the Japan Industrial Waste Information Center

is increasing, the volume of municipal solid waste has reached approximately 18,000 tons per day. It is said to be rising at an annual rate of 8% at present. Much of the municipal solid waste is disposed of in landfills, and there are concerns about a shortage of landfill sites. In response to this problem, in its 12th Five-year Plan, which is to begin in 2011, the Chinese government has indicated that it will industrialize the recycling of resources. It is expected to take proactive measures to tackle the problem.

Developing countries have small volumes of waste from industry, municipal kitchen waste is used for animal feed and fertilizer, and old-fashioned recycling is practiced by repeatedly reusing glass, plastics, and metals. However, dumping of kitchen waste into rivers and lakes is a main cause of environmental pollution.

Using Japan’s experiences will contribute to reduction of the world’s environmental problems and to environmental conservation, and also is a great opportunity for both Japan and other countries. Japan’s corporations are internationally competitive in the fields of waste and recycling, and expanding operation into developing countries is certainly a great business opportunity for such corporations. It is also an opportunity for developing countries to pursue smooth economic growth that takes the environment into consideration.

Industries in the fields of waste and recycling are called “venous industries.” They are contrasted with “arterial industries,” which collect and process resources to manufacture products and then sell them. Japan’s venous industries will promote waste and recycling measures not only in Japan but also in other countries in Asia and the rest of the world. Maintaining a balance between the environment and the economy is extremely important for global environmental conservation.