## The PCB waste problem

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are industrially synthesized compounds. Because they are resistant to heat, have high electrical insulation properties, and are chemically stable, they are often used as insulating oil in high-tension transformers, high-tension capacitors and voltage regulators, as well as the heating medium for heat exchangers. However, the Kanemi Oil Poisoning Incident in 1968 became a turning point, after which the toxicity of PCBs became widely recognized. In 1972, administrative guidance was given to PCB manufacturers to stop producing PCBs and collect them instead. In addition, the Law Concerning the Evaluation of Chemical Substances and Regulation of Their Manufacture, etc., was enacted in 1974, principally to prohibit PCBs from being manufactured, imported and used from that year onward. Later, in 1976, standards for disposal by high-temperature incineration were introduced. However, some PCB wastes have been held in storage by domestic companies without being disposed of for over 30 years because of the opposition from neighbors, except for about 5,500 tons of liquid PCBs that were disposed of by high-tempera-

cies to address increasingly complex and serious waste disposal problems. However, the government also realized that it needed to address the situation in which a significant proportion of the ever-increasing amount of recyclable resources was being disposed of without being recycled. To meet this need, the Law for the Promotion of Utilization of Recycled Resources was enacted in 1991 to oblige manufacturers to promote the effective utilization of recyclable resources. On the other hand, municipal governments, especially big city governments, found it more and more difficult to secure sufficient final and other disposal facilities for solid waste, leading to the problem of "reverse-charging," or paying fees in order to hand over certain wastes (as in the glass bottle recycling system, for example, which had previously worked well). This raised the need for further recycling of containers and packaging, which accounted for a large part of all municipal solid waste. To meet this need, the Containers and Packaging Recycling Law was enacted in 1995. This law mandated manufacturers to engage in recycling activities and obliged municipal governments to introduce well-planned efforts to foster sorted collection. This law, which can be regarded as an example of early adoption of

ture incineration at the Takasago plant of Kanegafuchi Kagaku Kogyo K.K. from 1987 to 1989. There was some concern that the negative legacy of these PCB wastes might cause environmental pollution in the event of loss or leakage during long-term storage.

In response, the government instituted the Law Concerning Special Measures against PCB Waste (PCB Special Measures Law) in July 2001 with the aim of ensuring and fostering the reliable and responsible disposal of the PCB wastes stored in Japan for long periods. The law stipulated the necessary regulations on PCB waste storage and disposal. In line with this law, the government took the initiative in constructing wide-area PCB waste disposal facilities to serve as key disposal centers, assisted by the Japan Environmental Safety Corporation (formerly Japan Environment Corporation), while the national and prefectural governments formed PCB waste disposal funds to reduce the financial burdens associated with disposal by small- and medium-sized enterprises. Through the use of these measures, Japan is striving to fundamentally eliminate the negative legacy posed by PCBs.

the concept now known as extended producer responsibility, has helped the development of full-fledged recycling systems by involving more members of the general public and attracting greater public attention.

In 1998, the Home Appliance Recycling Law was introduced, requiring home appliances to be disposed of by manufacturers, mainly by means of recycling. In 2000, the government also enacted the Construction Waste Recycling Law which obliges demolition companies that carry out demolition projects larger than the specified criteria to sort and recycle construction waste, and the Food Waste Recycling Law, which requires restaurant and distribution businesses to recycle food waste. To further enhance the legal framework for recycling, the End-of-life Vehicle Recycling Law was established in 2002, obliging automakers to collect and recycle shredder residues from end-of-life vehicles.

## C The first year of the establishment of a SMC Society

Based on experience gained over the years, the government designated 2000 as the first year of the establishment of a SMC because this was the year when the Fundamental Law for Establishing a Sound Material