cooperation and the improvement of port facilities. In FY 2008, demonstration experiments for transporting recycled resources by ship via recycling ports had been carried out, and verification of the appropriate techniques to pack/handle the cargo and of the information management technology was conducted.

Also, construction of recycled resource treatment facilities such as buildings and facilities for interim storage by joint public-private ventures and other bodies was supported.

### D. Appropriate handling of wastes from agricultural production materials such as used agricultural plastics

In order to promote the appropriate treatment of wastes from agricultural production materials such as used agricultural plastics, cooperation among related groups was established, the treatment/reduction plan was formulated, verification of the introduction technologies of biodegradable plastic films was implemented at the level of prefectures and municipalities, and popularization/awareness activities were set up in order to increase demands for recycled products, at a nationwide level.

### E. Promoting the recycling of used FRP vessels (boats)

As for FRP (fiber reinforced plastic) vessels, supportive and cooperative actions were made through means such as the popularization and awareness concerning the “Recycling System for FRP Vessels” and project evaluation, in order to support the Japan Boating Industry Association in its efforts for the phased construction and operation of the “Recycling System for FRP Vessels” starting from November 2005, utilizing the wide-area recognition system based on the Waste Management and Public Cleansing Law, in light of the recycling technology established by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. In FY 2008, actual operation of the above-mentioned system has been launched throughout Japan, and approx. 750 FRP vessels have been recycled.

### F. Promotion of the proper treatment and recycling of used aerosol products

As for the used aerosol products disposed as garbage which is not used up after consumer use, they have been causing fire accidents in collection vehicles during garbage collection at municipalities, explosion accidents during processing work at crushing facilities, and have been the source of recycling problems. In order to promote the proper treatment and recycling of these aerosol products, the municipalities and the product industry has worked in cooperation to popularize the necessity of disposing them as garbage after removing the filler with an appropriate tool, while the product industry worked to switch products to those equipped with devices that enable easy removal of the filler.

### G. Promotion of standardization

Japanese Industrial Standards Committee (JISC), the standardization institute of our State, is working on the adjustment of environmental JIS, based on the “Environmental JIS Development Action Program” formulated in April 2002. In FY 2008, research/consideration of the environmental JIS utilization status in green purchasing by the local governments/businesses/ consumers was implemented identifying the position of the environmental JIS among other environment-related laws, and tasks toward the further promotion of the environmental JIS utilization were extracted.

### H. Formulation of the Waste Recycling Governance Guidelines

The “Waste Recycling Governance Guidelines for Waste Generating Companies” were formulated in September 2004 by the Industrial Structure Council, in order to have the waste discharging enterprises implement thorough waste management, and to promote voluntary efforts for conducting waste and recycling management from the managerial viewpoint. In FY 2005, efforts were made to promote the proper treatment of waste and recycling by businesses, through means such as the holding of briefing sessions for various trade associations, human resources development assistance within medium and small-sized businesses and seminars, toward the popularization of the Waste Recycling Governance Guidelines. In addition, research with the aim to review the Waste Recycling Governance Guidelines was implemented in FY 2008, due to the fact that the social responsibility required of businesses concerning social/economic/environmental aspects have been changing.

### I. Revision of the Guideline for Waste Treatment and Recycling by item/industry

The Guideline for Waste Treatment and Recycling by item/industry was formulated in 1990 for each item/industry, with the aim to promote voluntary efforts by business operators concerning the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle). In the revision made in FY 2006, efforts concerning useful metals (including rare metals) for three items and four industries were included, along with new target values toward the reduction of paper (paper containers and packages, cardboard containers and packages, beverage containers and packages), glass bottles, steel cans, aluminum cans, plastics (plastic bottles, plastic containers and packages), accompanying the revision of the Containers and Packaging Recycling Law.

### J. Acceleration of biomass utilization

Fostering of national understanding through means such as information provision and holding of various briefing sessions, support in the formulation of the biomass town concept, and support in improving the biomass utilization facilities utilizing new technologies were implemented, based on the new “Biomass Nippon Strategy” decided by the Council in March 2006.

Particularly where the promotion of biofuel utilization is concerned, approaches were made toward the efficient enforcement of the Act on Promotion of Utilization of Organic Resources Originated from Agriculture, Forestry or Fisheries as Materials for Biomass Fuels newly put into effect in October 2008, and support was provided for cooperative efforts by agriculture/ forestry/fishery workers and biofuel manufacturers.

Also, a project aiming at the establishment of an effective technology for producing biofuels using soft cellulose materials such as rice straw, which can also serve as a food supply, has been launched.