leadership by promoting sound waste management and effective resource utilization both domestically and at the international level through collaboration with other countries as well as international organizations,

Acknowledging the significant progress of the 3R Initiative in G8 countries and by the European Commission thus far as summarized in the Annex to this Action Plan,

Agree to take the following actions, as appropriate to circumstances in individual countries:

## Goal 1: Prioritize 3Rs Policies and Improve Resource Productivity

## Action 1-1: Prioritize Implementation of 3Rs Policy

$ ^{*} $ Share the importance of the spirit of mottainai $ ^{1} $ , prioritize the actions to curb unsustainable consumption of natural resources, and minimize associated life cycle environmental impacts.

* Give high priority to waste reduction and take concrete actions such as reducing the use of disposable plastic bags and other single-use consumer products, thereby calling for other countries to follow suit.

$ ^{*} $ Contribute to integrating the concept of the 3Rs in all relevant policy areas.

$ ^{*} $ Strive for the utilization and management of the inputs, materials and energy which are contained in waste in an environmentally sound manner and ensure that waste management processes, including separation and pretreatment of waste, maintain high standards of protection of the environment and human health such as those developed under the Basel Convention.

* Recognize the importance of internalizing external costs so that the final price reflects environmental impacts and create incentives for more sustainable patterns of consumption and production.

* Work towards the improvement of the ability of national governments to measure the environmental and economic effects of 3Rs-related activities from a life cycle approach.

## Action 1-2: Improve Resource Productivity and Set Targets

$ ^{*} $ Welcome the adoption of the OECD Council Recommendation on Resource Productivity and take the lead in implementing the recommendation in each country. Also, support international collaborative work that analyzes material flows and associated environmental/economic impacts towards sustainable resource management through agencies and initiatives such as OECD and UNEP $ ^{2} $ .

* As agreed at the St. Petersburg Summit in 2006 by the G8 leaders $ ^{3} $ , set targets $ ^{4} $ as appropriate taking account of resource productivity in furthering efforts to optimize resource cycles.

## Action 1-3: Pursue Co-benefits between the 3Rs and Greenhouse Gas Emission Reductions

* Seek co-benefits between waste management and 3Rs-related activities and reducing greenhouse gas emissions and thus contribute to global climate protection by effective implementation of 3Rs practices.

$ ^{*} $ Encourage effective utilization of waste as one of the alternative sources of energy to fossil fuel resources, for example, by developing and utilizing technologies that generate heat and power from organic and other wastes.

$ ^{*} $ Encourage the use of organic materials contained in waste and its safe and lawful utilization for a variety of purposes, such as animal feed, composting, fermentation, and energy recovery. Promote reduced land-filling of organic matter for preventing emission of greenhouse gases, particularly methane.

* Together with individual businesses, promote the development of technologies and identify potential opportunities.