rate [14-15%, cyclical use amount/ (cyclical use amount + DMI)], and final disposal amount (23 million tons, as the amount of waste brought to landfill).

• Japan achieved a 70% reduction in its final disposal amount between 1990 and 2005.

• 3Rs activities were in 2007 incorporated as part of an important environmental strategy called “Becoming a Leading Environmental Nation in the 21st Century: Japan’s Strategy for a Sustainable Society”.

• Recycling-related laws have recently been amended to further promote recycling of wastes, such as the recycling of packaging and container waste and food waste.

• Japan has promoted the 3Rs in Asia through various activities such as policy dialogues and capacity building as well as by closely collaborating with international organisations

## Russia

• Various laws for the promotion of the 3Rs are being drafted, including a federal law on recoverable resources. Also there are regulations licensing activities related to hazardous waste treatment.

- Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of August 29th 2007 No. 545 “On Amendments made to RF Governmental Decree of June 16th 2007 No. 461 “On Rules of Development and Approval of Standards of Waste Creation and Limits on it’s Disposal.”

- 40% of consumer and industrial waste is being recovered for reuse or subject to waste treatment.

## United Kingdom

• Revised Waste Strategy for England published in 2007 includes tougher targets on recycling and composting household waste: 40% by 2010, 45% by 2015 and 50% by 2020.

• New target to reduce amount of household waste not re-used, recycled or composted – by 29% of 2000 totals by 2010 and by 45% by 2020.

• Implementing economic incentives such as a landfill tax which will escalate from $ £32/te $ now to $ £48/te $ in 2010.

• Targeting action on key waste materials: paper, food, glass, aluminum, wood, plastics and textiles as well as actions on products in order to achieve sustainable consumption and production.

• More effort being placed on prevention of illegal transboundary movement under the framework of the Basel Convention.

## United States of America

• The US promotes 3Rs principles though a wide range of measures and programs, including Green Buildings, the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (stimulating the purchase of environmentally sound electronics and development of electronics take-back programs), Green Suppliers network, and similar standards and product stewardship programs; focus is on source reduction, toxics reduction, recycling and reuse of materials, and remanufacturing.

- The US promotes the safe use of industrial materials like coal combustion residue, foundry sands, and construction and demolition debris, with a target of 50% of coal combustion residue beneficially used by 2011; the current rate is 43%.

- The national municipal solid waste recycling goal is 35%, with a focus on containers, paper, and food wastes; through the efforts of a stakeholder partnership, paper recycling reached 56% in 2007.

• The US issued an Executive Order in January 2007 to strengthen federal environmental, energy, and transportation management by reflecting the concept of 3Rs.