Silviase/jgov_v1.4_full_ann huggingface dataset:
## f) Biodiesel fuel

Biodiesel fuel (BDF) can be substituted for light oil and used in automobile diesel engines. It is made from biomass materials such as waste food oil. BDF has low sulfur oxide content, so the exhaust contains low concentrations of sulfur oxides. Since it is an oxygen-containing fuel it promotes engine combustion, making it a clean fuel characterized by low carbon monoxide and dark smoke emissions.

The process of producing biodiesel fuel involves first causing fats (triglycerides) in waste food oil to react with methanol (transesterification) to produce fatty acid methyl esters. Glycerin and other byproducts produced at the same time are separated out from the obtained reaction oil. The remaining oil is then refined into biodiesel fuel.

Kyoto City collects about 125 kiloliters of waste food oil annually at about 1,000 collection sites in the city in cooperation with members of unit communities. The collected oil is made into biodiesel fuel at a dedicated plant with a capacity of 5,000 liters per day. The fuel is used in garbage trucks (equivalent to 210 trucks) and city buses. (Fig. 2-47)

Source: Homepage of Kyoto city

Fig. 2-47 Production of bio-diesel fuel

Source: Hitachi Zosen Corporation

## g) Bioethanol

Fuel ethanol is produced using construction waste wood as the main material along with paper trash and food residue (tofu refuse, etc.) by means of saccharification by diluted sulfuric acid, two kinds of genetically modified microorganisms (KO11), and yeast. (Fig. 2-48)
Fig. 2-49 Usage cycle of materials in the steel industry

Fig. 2-50 Material flow of copper

Upstream and downstream (final product) data are not consistent with each other because they are taken from different sources and involve various processes, inventories, and yields.

Sources: (a) "Statistics of Steel, Non-ferrous, and Metal Products" by Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI)

(b) The Japanese Electric Wire & Cable Maker' Association

(c) Japan Copper and Brass Association

(d) “The Status of Import of Major Non-ferrous Metals according to Countries and Forms” by METI

(e) Trade of Japan

(f) Estimates by Metal Economics Research Institute, Japan
Fig. 2-51 The Aluminum industry of Japan (structure and import of material)

Unit: 1000 tons (based on the results in 2005) Source: Japan Aluminum Association

## Column : Recycling of Waste Wood into Material for Iron Production

Some steelworks use technology that uses waste wood, such as packing wood plates and pallets, as an auxiliary material to adjust the carbon component of steel. This technology recovers iron from oxidized iron, such as iron ore, by means of a reducing reaction with the carbon component of wastes wood and also reuses CO gases produced as a byproduct as fuel. As a result, the process contributes to reducing $ CO_{2} $ emissions during the steel manufacturing process.

Source: Sumitomo Metal Industries, Ltd.
## (2) Rare metals and heavy metals

While gold and silver have traditionally been used as ornaments, rare metals such as platinum and indium are used in the fields of cutting-edge technologies. For example, platinum is used as a purification catalyst for automobile exhausts; molybdenum and vanadium are industrial catalysts for oil refineries and the production of petrochemicals; and indium is used in transparent electrodes for liquid-crystal panels. Since heavy metals such as lead and cadmium are harmful when discharged into the environment, it is necessary to ensure their recovery from discarded home appliances. Japan has technologies to recover and recycle rare metals and heavy metals from waste as an extension of the metal smelting and refining technologies that it has been developing and acquiring for decades. Specifically, non-ferrous metal smelters and refineries take advantage of enhanced smelting and refining technologies to recover and recycle precious metals such as gold and silver and heavy metals such as lead contained in discarded home appliances, platinum contained in automobile catalysts, and indium contained in intra-process scrap in the production of liquid-crystal panels. (Fig. 2-52)

There are also technologies where shredder dust produced from automobiles and discarded home appliances and copper-containing

Factory that recovers rare metals and heavy metals from shredding dust

Naoshima Smelter of Mitsubishi Material

Source: Homepage of the Prefecture of Kagawa

Fig. 2-52 Example of flow of metal recycling in a smelter

Source: DOWA Eco-System Co., Ltd.
## Column: Project for Collecting and Recovering Resources from Used Mobile Phones

In cooperation with the Basel Convention secretariat and the Asian countries of Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand, Japanese companies have established a network on a trial basis to collect used phone mobiles from those countries and transport them to Japan where their resources are recovered. This is the first project that Japanese private enterprises have launched in cooperation with the Basel Convention secretariat.

The project will first research and evaluate schemes to collect used mobile phones in those countries followed by the implementing of a pilot project for transporting mobile phones to Japan for resource recovery. The project period covers the two years of 2006 and 2007. Depending upon the results, expanding the areas covered and items collected will be considered.

sludge are incinerated and melted. After melting the burnable pieces and substances as well as chlorine are removed. Water vapor produced in the recycling process is used as energy, at the same time that copper, lead, and zinc are recovered by copper smelting and refining equipment. Metals are also recovered from melted fly ash produced in non-industrial wastes incinerators by means of similar smelting and refining after the fly ash has been washed with water and chlorine and removed.

## Section 3: Policies and Measures to Promote the Development and Introduction of Technologies

Section 2 explained various technologies that support a sound material-cycle society (SMS). The development and introduction of these technologies advanced due to related legal systems and regulations, tax schemes and other economic incentives, and due to independent efforts of enterprises. Section 3 will explain the policies, regulations and the like that promote the development and introduction of technologies supporting a SMS.
dissemination of the applicable technology to a wide scope of industrial activities, etc. and thus contribute to the development of technology since unnecessary overlaps with similar technology development will be avoided, productivity will be improved and labor resources will be focused on making further technology improvements.

In an effort to prepare the Environmental JIS, the Japanese Industrial Standards Committee (JISC), which is the standardization institute of Japan, established an "Action Program for the Promotion of the Establishment of Environmental JIS" in April 2002. The program contains an "Environmental JIS Mid-Term Plan", which is revised every year. The "Environmental JIS" are Japanese Industrial Standards related to the environment and to the recycling of resources. They indicate standards that are useful for the promotion of 3R and others.

As examples of this kind of standards, (1) molten slag aggregate for concrete (JISA5031) and (2) molten slag for road construction (JISA5032) were standardized as JIS in July 2006. These JIS define standards for the elution and content of hazardous substances. In combination with the chemical testing method for slag (JISK0058), they provide a method to evaluate environmental safety for the use of molten slag.

### 4. Ecotowns, etc

Ecotown projects are a scheme that was created in 1997. The scheme positions the “zero-emissions concept” (which aims to use all wastes generated by an industry as raw material in another field to reduce waste to zero) as the basic concept to form a regional environmentally-friendly economy and society and aims to promote this concept as a cornerstone of regional development to promote an advanced environmentally-friendly town development.

Specifically, if a plan prepared by the prefecture or Cabinet-order designated city (if prepared by a city, town or village, including some administrative service associations, the plan is jointly signed with the prefecture, etc.) corresponding to the characteristics of the specific region was approved by both the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, then comprehensive and multi-faceted support is provided to local governments and private-sector organizations for projects implemented on the basis of this plan. Zero-emission efforts on a regional basis enable the collaboration among different industry types and promise the introduction of even more advanced technology (Fig. 3-1).

Kitakyushu Eco-Town

Source: Kitakyushu City

Fig. 3-1 Tokyo Super Ecotown / Kawasaki Ecotown

Source: Ministry of the Environment
Fig. 3-2 Biomass towns

Source: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

At the first ecotown, Kitakyushu Ecotown, various recycling businesses for PET bottles, office equipment, cars, home appliances and other items use advanced technology to produce recycled components and recycled raw material, etc. in an effort to become a zero-emissions environmental industry complex through mutual collaboration. Moreover, the recycling residue, shredder dust and other material generated in the town is properly treated in the direct melting furnace of the complex core facility. The molten material is recycled into concrete blocks, etc., and the heat generated is recovered and used to generate electric power, which is then supplied to each recycling plant.

With cities, towns and villages playing a central role, an overall plan for using regional biomass, the “Biomass Town Concept”, is being developed. As of March 31, 2007, 90 cities, town and villages have announced this concept. In these biomass towns, resources from cattle excrement or food waste, etc. are converted into energy at biomass conversion facilities such as power generation facilities or composting facilities to ensure that biomass is effectively used inside and outside of the regions (Fig. 3-2).

### 5. Financial Support for Establishing a SMS

To date, the state has been promoting measures to deal with the dioxins generated by waste incineration, as well as heat recovery and the recycling of molten slag of general waste through subsidies, etc. for the preparation of general waste management facilities. To develop this further, and adopting the new concept of promoting the establishment of a SMS on a regional basis, the state started, in fiscal 2005, to actively cooperate with cities, towns and villages to create wide-area, comprehensive systems for the efficient recovery of resources and energy from waste with the development of general waste management facilities while utilizing the self-initiative and ingenuity of the cities, towns and villages and using subsidies for establishing a SMS. Under this system, the cities, towns and villages establish a regional plan covering about 5 years (regional plan for the establishment of a SMS) to comprehensively promote 3R, including measures to restrict the generation of waste, to establish an organization for waste separation in the region, to develop recycling facilities for collecting resources and energy from waste, and others. In these regional plans, the cities, towns and villages identify 3R objectives, such as to restrict waste generation, to promote recycling, to recover energy, to reduce waste disposed of in final landfill sites, and so forth. The state works with the prefectures to cooperate in the efforts of the cities, towns and villages from the conceptual phase of these regional plans, and provides subsidies for the cost of developing the facilities on the basis of these regional plans (Fig. 3-3).

The establishment of these regional plans for creating a SMS and subsidies for the cost of developing facilities helps to accelerate the introduction of technology to promote 3R.
Fig. 3-3 Main facilities eligible for financial support for establishing SMS

Source: Ministry of the Environment

### 6. Support for Technology Development

To accelerate the development of 3R and waste management technologies, various forms of support have been provided. Details will be given in the next section, since this is also related to the future trends in the development of these technologies.

### 7. Establishment of Independent Action Plans by Companies

Japanese industry is working through appeals by Nippon Keidanren to promote recycling and restrict waste emissions. In 1997, an environmental independent action plan was established, and alongside it, an independent action plan for anti-waste measures was created. As of March 31, 2007, 40 types of industry are participating in the anti-waste measures field of the independent action plan, and each industry has identified numerical objectives such as for the recycling ratio or the quantity of waste disposed of in final landfill sites, and has set forth specific measures to achieve these objectives.

For example, the electric power industry defined the objective of making the waste material-recycling ratio in 2010 at least 90%, and to achieve this, stated it would actively work to open up fields where coal can be stably used in large quantities, and to conduct research and development on technologies for effective utilization. These independent efforts of enterprises will accelerate the development and introduction of technologies necessary for the proper treatment of waste and the promotion of 3R.

As described, the development and introduction of various technologies have been accelerated by incentives based on various schemes. On the other hand, the schemes started to function and produce positive effects because of the actual development and introduction of technology. When designing schemes to build a SMS in the future, it is necessary to monitor the development and introduction of related technologies.

Further, the individual technologies identified in Section 2 do not function by themselves, but only function as a system. This is another point that needs to be considered. For example, when conducting methane fermentation using biomass waste, an effective collection and stable supply of suitable waste is required, and there needs to be a user of the resulting methane gas located in the vicinity. When designing a scheme, it is important to consider this kind of technology introduction as a system.
development of humankind, we must first fundamentally revise our one-way economic and social structure of mass production, mass consumption and mass disposal, and make concerted efforts to build a SMS with a proper division of roles for any entity in our society."

Examining the developments of the last six years from this starting point, can we say that the construction of a SMS has made progress? Certainly, the numbers for the three indicators for the Basic Plan for Establishing the Sound material - cycle Society (resource productivity, recycling ratio and quantity of waste disposed of in final landfills) are improving, and certain progress can be seen. But looking at the emissions of industrial waste, the emissions of 2004 (417 million tons) are about 2% below the emissions at the peak in 1996 (426 million tons), but compared to the emissions of 2001 (400 tons) there is an increase of about 4%. This means that the restriction of waste generation (reduce), which has the highest priority among the 3Rs, is not sufficient, and further efforts are needed. Further, regarding efforts for “reuse”, the use of returnable bottles such as beer bottles used to be normal, but as people’s lifestyles have changed, the number of returnable bottles used has been declining. The efforts for “reuse” require each person to be aware of the value of things. People need to review their lifestyle and step up their reuse of things.

As this document has shown, technologies to support the SMS already exist. To extract the intrinsic value of these technologies and attain the SMS, we need to review our social and economic activities and our lifestyles, and to make continuous efforts in our everyday lives.
Figure 5-1-3: Changes in Energy-Originated Carbon Dioxide of Respective Sectors and the 2010 targets.

Sector	FY1990	the rate change	FY2005	the reduction rate to the aim	Standard aim in FY2010 ( $ ^{*} $ )
Industries	482	-5.5%	456	-4.3%	435
Transportation	217	18.1%	257	-3.1%	250
Commercial /other	164	44.6%	238	-44.1%	165
Residential	127	36.7%	174	-29.2%	137
Energy conversion	68	15.7%	78	-14.0%	69

(*) It is necessary to conduct a detailed review and adjustment as to numerical estimates based on the inventory of green gas emissions and removals, since the estimated amount of emissions as of the base year (1990 in principle), which was figured out at the time that the Kyoto Protocol Target Achievement Plan was established, is not consistent with today's estimates.

Source: Ministry of the Environment

further acceleration of the implementation of the measures would be necessary to ensure the thorough fulfillment of the Plan, although overall achievements through the implementation of the measures were positively evaluated at the same time.

## (2) Depletion of the ozone layer

CFCs, halons and some other substances are found to have been depleting the ozone layer. There is concern that depletion of ozone layer may increase the amount of harmful ultraviolet radiation reaching the earth, leading to increased damage to human health such as skin cancer and cataracts, as well as hindered growth of plants and plankton.

The ozone layer has been depleted, in particular in the 1980s, over the whole globe, except for the tropical areas. The total ozone over Japan also decreased, especially in the 1980s, but it has remained constant or slightly increased since the 1990s.

In 2006, the area of the ozone hole over Antarctica was found to be one of the largest. At present, no downward trend of the ozone hole area can be observed. The ozone layer over Antarctica is still in critical condition. Japan has controlled the production of ozone-depleting substances, in accordance with the Law Concerning the Protection of the Ozone Layer through the Control of Specified Substances and Other Measures. In Japan, recovery and destruction of fluorocarbons from end-of-life products are required by the Law for the Recycling of Specified Kinds of Home Appliances, the Law for Ensuring the Implementation of Recovery and Destruction of Fluorocarbons in Specified Products and the Law for the Recycling

Figure 5-1-4: Changes in the Annual Average of Total Ozone over Japan

Source: Japan Meteorological Agency, Report of Ozone Layer Observation in 2006

Figure 5-1-5: Changes in the Size of Ozone Hole over Antarctica
of End-of-Life Vehicles. For the purpose of ensuring the recovery of fluorocarbons from commercial refrigerators and air conditioners, the Law for Ensuring the Implementation of Recovery and Destruction of Fluorocarbons in Specified Products was amended in June 2006.

## (3) Acid deposition and dust and sandstorms (DSS)

Acid deposition can produce various effects on the environment and living creatures such as trees or fish by increasing acidity in soil, lake and reservoir water, etc. Buildings, artificial constructions, and cultural assets can be affected by acid deposition.

Japan has also had almost the same level of acid deposition as the Western nations that have suffered some damage. However, it is still unclear how acid deposition will impact on ecosystems in Japan. The effects of acid deposition may become apparent in the future, if Japan’s acid deposition remains at the current level.

The Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia (EANET) became fully operational in FY2001. It is aiming to identify the state of acid deposition and its impacts on East Asia and to establish the framework for a regional cooperative approach to acid deposition problems.

In Japan, long-term monitoring of acid deposition is carried out to detect its effects as early as possible and to forecast its effects in the future.

In recent years, the dust and sandstorms (DSS) that blow over from China and Mongolia have increased their scale, and China,

Figure 5-1-6: Levels of pH in Precipitation

Notes: 1. Annual average data stands for weighted average precipitation.

Source: Data from the Ministry of the Environment
the Republic of Korea, Japan and other nations share a common interest in dealing with such enlarged DSS. In Japan, the government has introduced the high-level LIDAR (light detection and ranging) system to monitor DSS. In addition, China, Mongolia, Korea, Japan, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and some other international organizations are working together to explore effective measures to deal with DSS in the future.

## (4) Marine environment

For conservation of the marine environment, Japan is a state party to the London Convention, which regulates ocean dumping from vessels, and to the MARPOL 73/78 Convention, which prevents marine pollution caused by ships. In response to these conventions, Japan has taken domestic measures to prevent marine pollution.

In order to assess and monitor the conditions of the marine environment, Japan conducts marine environment monitoring programs, to systematically collect comprehensive data on water quality, bottom sediments, and aquatic organisms.

In terms of marine pollution caused by oil, waste and red tides, 470 cases were identified in 2006, an increase of 110 cases from the 2005 level.

Figure 5-1-7: Changes in the Number of Marine Pollution Cases Identified

In response to the conclusion of the OPRC-HNS Protocol (Protocol on Preparedness, Response and Cooperation to Pollution Incidents by Hazardous and Noxious Substances), which is going to enter into force in June 2007, the Marine Pollution and Disaster Prevention Law has been partially revised, and the National Plan on Preparedness and Response to Emergency Pollution Incidents by Oil or Other Hazardous Substances” has been newly established. Also, the High-level Inter-ministry Meeting on Marine Litter was organized to enhance control over drifting refuse and abandoned wastes washed seashore, and in March 2007 the conference released to the public a report on the current status, policy measures to be implemented by the national government and necessary efforts in the future regarding this issue.

## (5) Forest and desertification

The world’s forests now occupy approximately 30% of the earth’s surface, having decreased about 7.32 million hectares per year on average from 2000 to 2005. Particularly, African, South American, and Southeast Asian from Asian region forests, where the tropical forests are located, have suffered a significant reduction in their size.

This significant reduction is caused by changes in land use to farmlands from forests, an increase in non-traditional, migratory slash-and-burn agriculture, overharvesting of firewood and charcoal, as well as illegal logging. In an effort to tackle this problem, the 41st session of the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) adopted projects and actions to promote sustainable management of tropical forests.