As for the acceleration of biomass towns, support has been provided for the concept formulation and its realization, and 197 municipalities have issued their biomass town concept as of the end of March, 2009.

Apart from this, cyclical use of resources through the recycling of shells which are seafood processing by-products has been promoted.

Also, in the Agricultural Community Effluent Treatment Program, volume reduction of excess sludge has been promoted according to the actual situation of the region, along with promoting recycling through means such as compost creation and the utilization of construction materials, concerning the sludge generated in the treatment process.

K. Collection of rare metals from used small household appliances and the Advanced Disposal Promotion Project

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Ministry of the Environment held a meeting of “Study Group for Collecting Rare Metals from Used Small Household Appliances and Implementing Proper Treatment” following the previous meeting in 2008, conducted model projects at seven regions nationwide and considered the matter of proper treatment, along with considering the efficient and effective recovery method with the aim to construct a proper and effective recycling system for rare metals.

### Section 5. Creation of an International Sound Material-Cycle Society

### A. Promotion of the 3R Initiative in G8 countries

G8 Environment Ministers Meeting had been held in Kobe in May 2008, and the "Kobe 3R Action Plan", where concrete actions to be taken by each of the G8 countries toward the further promotion of the 3Rs were listed and agreed. This plan was also supported by the leaders of G8 countries in the Lake Toya G8 summit, which was held alongside Lake Toya in Hokkaido, in July 2008.

Also, “Japan’s New Action Plan towards a Global Zero Waste Society” was presented during the G8 Environment Ministers Meeting, where international efforts to be promoted toward the establishment of a Sound Material-Cycle Society in Asia and other regions were listed.

### B. Efforts in Asia

(a) Supporting the formulation of 3Rs plan/strategy by each country

In countries such as Vietnam and Indonesia, and according to the conditions in each country, Japan has been supporting the formulation of plans and strategies for promoting the 3Rs nationally, working in cooperation with the United Nations Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific and the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES). In FY 2009, a national strategy was formulated in Vietnam.

## (b) Policy dialogues

In order to promote the 3Rs, Japan has been promoting proactive policy dialogues, with the departments in charge of waste treatment and the 3Rs of the countries where efforts are being made toward the reinforcement of the domestic system and the systematic implementation of 3Rs policies.

In May 2009, “The 3rd Japan-China Waste Recycling Policy Dialogue” between department head representatives was implemented with the Ministry of Environmental Protection of China. It was agreed with the Ministry of Environmental Protection of China and the Administration for Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine to promote cooperation between relevant ministries and agencies of Japan and China concerning examination of the possibility of concrete cooperation on proper management of electrical and electronic wastes, medical wastes, etc. and import/export management of wastes.

In August 2009, “The 4th Japan-Korea Waste Recycling Policy Dialogue” between department head representatives was implemented with Korea’s Ministry of the Environment. Opinions were exchanged concerning the Fundamental Plan for Establishing a Sound Material-Cycle Society, recycling of electrical/electronic products and automobiles, utilization of biomass gas, progress of measures for reduction of plastic grocery bags, import/export of wastes, trend of international efforts for 3Rs, etc. explaining the summary and issues of both countries’ policies (Figure 5-1).

## (c) Regional 3R Forum in Asia

Japan proposed the inauguration of the “Regional 3R Forum in Asia”, in the Meeting of the Environment Ministers during the East Asia Summit held in Hanoi, Vietnam in October 2008, and has obtained approval from the other participating countries. The Asian Forum for the Promotion of 3Rs is a platform for inter-regional cooperation for promoting the 3Rs, through means such as the creation/implementation of pilot projects and the promotion of research cooperation, with the participation of wide-ranged related parties such as international organizations, aid agencies, research institutes and private sectors.

To that end, the Ministry of the Environment and UN Center for Regional Development jointly hosted “Inaugural Meeting of Regional 3R Forum in Asia” in November 2009, and 15 Asian government representatives, international institutions and experts on 3Rs participated in the meeting. In the meeting, “Tokyo 3R Statement Regarding Establishment of Regional 3R Forum in Asia” was agreed by the participants and “Regional 3R Forum in Asia” was established.

Under the Regional 3R Forum in Asia, high-level policy dialogues on 3Rs will be promoted, support for the implementation of 3Rs projects in each country will be promoted, information which is useful for 3Rs promotion will be shared and networking of concerned parties will be advanced in the future.