Figure3-3 Industrial Waste Treatment Flow (FY2006)

Note 1: Figures in each item are rounded off; therefore, the total may not equal the breakdowns. 2: Figures in the round brackets are figures for FY2004. Source: Ministry of the Environment

home appliances, “Guidelines on the creation of standards for sorting for reuse and recycling” were laid down.

## (5) International efforts

The G8 Environment Ministers Meeting was held in Kobe in May 2008, and 3Rs were featured as one of the main topics. Since “3R Initiative” was proposed through Ministerial Discussions of each participating countries at the G8 summit in 2004, the progress of international efforts towards the 3R Initiative were acknowledged. Thus the “Kobe 3R Action Plan,” that lists specific future action plans of each G8 countries for further progression of 3Rs was agreed. The plan was also supported by each G8 leaders at the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit, held in the Lake Toya area in Hokkaido, in July 2008.

On the basis of this action plan, each G8 country endeavored to reduce disposable products including shopping bags, to set up targets considering resource productivity, to accept hazardous wastes from developing countries and to support capacity building of developing countries. In particular, for reduction of disposable shopping bags, Japan, China and South Korea will be calling for efforts to other countries in Asia and areas all over the world, as a tripartite collaboration.

Japan also announced “Japan’s New Action Plan towards a Global Zero Waste Society” that lists its international efforts towards building a Sound Material-Cycle Society in Asia and other countries, on the occasion of G8 Environmental Minister Meeting.

On the basis of the plan, Japan is supporting the creation of a Sound Material-Cycle Society and regional efforts in each Asian country to develop 3R Initiative in the whole Asia. Japan held the Asia 3R Conference twice, prior to the G8 Environment Ministers Meeting, while utilizing Japan's knowledge and experience to support the creation of a strategy for each country to promote 3R in Asia (Thailand, Bangladesh, Cambodia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Indonesia), maintaining information and technology hubs including 3R Knowledge Hub and establishing a research network, reviewing and holding policy dialogs of the analysis of present state and policy recommendation on medical waste management through the Regional Forum on Environment and Health in Southeast and East Asian Countries, etc. Japan is also supporting the formation of the Asian Network for Prevention of Illegal Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes, and the Project on the Environmentally Sound Management of E-Waste for Asia Pacific Region according to the Basel Convention. Through these efforts, Japan is aiming to progress 3R promotion and proper disposal of waste to build a Sound Material-Cycle Society in the whole Asia.

Currently, Japan has been calling for each Asian country to hold the Regional 3R Forum in Asia as a platform for the international promotion of 3Rs in Asia, and establishment of the Regional 3R Forum in Asia was approved at the ministerial statement in the first East Asia Summit Environment Ministers Meeting held in October 2008. The Forum is expected to be launched around mid-2009.