on waste management measures", the "project to develop the technical foundation for next-generation waste management technology" and the "project to promote research on waste measures." In particular, a special budget for 3R incentives was created in fiscal 2006 in the subsidies for scientific research on waste management, etc., targeting research and technology development related to international 3R. These research projects use the top-down method and have the theme "constructing a system for international recycling of resources and proper waste management optimized for the environment of the Asian region". The research conducted during the three-year research term is shown in Table 4-1.

Table 4-1 3R technology research

No	Representative research institute	Research issue
1	Kyoto University, Environment Preservation Center	Analysis of residual chemical substances in household waste products and 3R scenarios
2	National Institute for Environmental Studies, Research Center for Material Cycles and Waste Management	Lifestyle comparison techniques for scenarios including overseas recycling, and application to waste plastics
3	National Institute for Environmental Studies, Research Center for Material Cycles and Waste Management	Analysis of the resource recycling system of waste electric and electronic components and waste plastic in the Asian region
4	Sophia University, Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies	Comparative research on recycling systems in various Asian countries
5	Tohoku University, Graduate School of International Cultural Studies	Analysis of extended producer responsibility schemes in Japan and South Korea, and research on forging partnerships
6	JETRO, Institute of Developing Economies	State of recycling in the Asian region and international resource recycling management/3R policies
7	Kumamoto University, Faculty of Law	Comparative research on car recycling systems in the Asian region

Source: Ministry of the Environment

Further, the “Strategic Technology Roadmap 2007”, established by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in April 2007, lists 3R as one of the points in the environmental and energy field, and for 3R-related technology for reducing waste disposed of in final landfill sites and for effectively using resources, the roadmap sets policy objectives to be achieved by fiscal 2010 and a technology strategy roadmap for the next 30 years. Specifically, the following items were selected as key issues: “reduction of waste disposed of in final landfill sites”, “construction stock (construction waste)”, “3R for metal resources” and “3R eco-design and regeneration production technology”. The technologies necessary to solve these issues are detailed in the roadmap. Further, several relevant policies for technology development and practical application as technology development strategies were bundled in a package as the “3R program” for a systematic approach to research and development as well as technologies for practical application contributing to the promotion of 3R. The policies in the package are mainly in the technology development fields listed in the “Technology Strategy Map” that the state should get involved in. Specific efforts in fiscal 2006 included, for example, the development of technologies for removing substances hindering recycling in the design and manufacturing phase of a product, maintenance technologies that prolong the life of buildings and architectural structures, technologies to reinforce construction material, and technologies to improve and facilitate the recycling of steel sheets for cars.

Further, projects to subsidize practical application in order to disseminate and promote 3R technology were carried out (projects based on public invitation for proposals).