refers to the total volume of the wastes directly sent for final disposal and the volume of treatment residue sent for final disposal after intermediate treatment (Figure3-11).

### C. Measures for Reducing Greenhouse Gases in the Field of Waste

The emission of greenhouse gases derived from waste was approximately 34.31 tons (carbon dioxide equivalent) in FY 2008, and has been steadily declining in recent years, due to efforts based on the “Kyoto Protocol Target Achievement Plan.”

## (4) Number of Incidents and Amount of Illegal Dumping

In FY 2009, there were 279 new cases of illegal dumping (57 thousand tons), and 187 cases of inappropriate treatment of industrial waste (379 thousand tons).

## (5) Japan’s approach to a sound material-cycle society

In order to ensure the steady implementation of the Sound Material-Cycle Society Fundamental Plan, the Central Environmental Council is required to review the progress of measures based on the Fundamental Plan for a Sound Material-Cycle Society every year and report on the direction of future policies to the government as necessary. In FY 2010 the Council conducted the third evaluation of the progresses of the measures based on the Fundamental Plan for a Sound Material-Cycle Society.

As for the state of enforcement of the Waste Manage-

Figure 3-6 Changes in Resource Productivity

Figure 3-7 Changes in the Cyclical Use Rate

Source: Ministry of the Environment

ment and Public Cleansing Law, the Central Environment Council gave its opinion on the "direction for reconsideration of the waste treatment system" in January 2010.

Reviews were conducted based on that opinion, and the "Bill for Making Partial Amendment to the Waste Management and Public Cleansing Law" was decided upon by the Cabinet on March 5, 2010, and submitted to the Diet on the same day. The bill was unanimously approved and enacted by both the Lower House and the Upper House, and promulgated on May 19, 2010. Also, the "cabinet ordinance partially amending the Enforcement Ordinance of the Waste Management and Public Cleansing Law" was decided upon by the Cabinet on December 17, 2010, and promulgated on December 22, 2010. These amendments excluding some of the parts were enacted on April 1, 2011. As for container and package recycling, a joint meeting of the Central Environment Council and the Industrial Structure Council was held and the councils summarized the guidelines of plastic container recycling methods. The summary stated that the prioritization of material recycling methods would be continued for the moment, and identified measures for improving the quality of material recycling methods, such as improving the bid system. In addition, in order to promote the 3Rs for container and packaging waste, the Ministry of the Environment is conducting dissemination and awareness raising activities for consumers through the waste containers and packaging reduction promoters (nicknamed "the 3R Promotion Meister") commissioned based on the Containers and Packaging Recycling Law. The Ministry of the Environment has also been conducting the "My Bottle, My Cup Campaign" since June 2010 for reducing the amount of disposable drink containers, conducting awareness raising activities at events with the cooperation of local governments, groups and corporations, and conducting demonstration experiments at universities.

As for automobile recycling, the Ministry of the Environment released the “Report on the Progress of the Automobile Recycling System” in January 2010, and proposed that they should clarify the handling procedure of used vehicles and end-of-life vehicles. Based on the Report, the joint council working groups of the Central Environment Council and the Industrial Structure Council started discussions in July 2010 to develop guidelines to serve as criteria for determining end-of-life vehicles and used vehicles, and released a “Report on

Figure 3-8 Changes in the Final Disposal Volume of Waste