Figure 3-4 Changes to the unconfirmed volume of PET bottles (*difference between production/volume of sales and volume of sorted collection)

Source: Ministry of the Environment

tus of the Home Appliance Recycling System" was compiled. The Ministry of the Environment has concretized the measures shown by the report as follows:

- In order to prescribe the addition of home appliances subject to the law (liquid crystal and plasma televisions and laundry driers) and the raising of the recycling ratio of the existing home appliances subject to the law, the enforcement ordinance of the Home Appliance Recycling Law was revised in December of the same year (enforced in April 1, 2009).

- For the establishment of a cooperative framework among concerned parties including financial support concerning measures against illegal dumping, and the improvement of the collection and transportation of waste home appliances in isolated islands, with financial cooperation from the manufacturers of home appliances cooperative projects have started for the prevention of illegal dumping and to provide measures for isolated islands.

- Regarding designated collection sites that were divided into two groups, in order to reduce the burdens and inequalities among retailers, etc., concerning the collection and transportation of waste home appliances, such sites have been commoditized since October 1, 2009. This allowed collecting waste home appliances of all manufactures at all designated collection sites nationwide (379 sites).

- Because distribution by retailers for reuse of specified home appliances is expected to improve convenience for consumers who dispose of waste home appliances, “Guidelines on the creation of standards for sorting for reuse and recycling” were laid down to promote appropriate reuse and recycling for retailers.

## (7) Law Concerning Recycling of Materials for Construction Works (Construction Materials Recycling Law)

### A. Enforcement Status

The Construction Materials Recycling Law was enforced in May 2002, targeting concrete mass, asphalt and concrete mass, and waste lumber disposed of at construction sites. In fiscal 2008, the recycling rate of concrete mass and that of asphalt and concrete mass was 97.3% and 98.4% respectively, which are high values. The recycling rate of lumber disposed at construction sites is 80.3% and the rate with reduction included is 89.4%, showing steady recycling.

### B. Revision of the Construction Recycling System

In order to address issues related to construction recycling, “Plan 2008 for Promoting the Construction Waste

Figure 3-5 Changes to recycling outsourcing charges paid by specified businesses to designated corporations

Source: Created by the Ministry of the Environment, based on materials published by the Japan Container and Package Recycling Association

“Recycling” was formulated in April 2008, and measures based on this plan are being taken. In addition, in order to understand the actual state of construction by-products after the formulation of “Plan 2008 for Promoting the Construction Waste Recycling”, research on the actual state of construction by-products for fiscal 2008 was carried out. Because five years passed since the complete enforcement of the Construction Materials Recycling Law in May 2002, a report was compiled in December 2008 after seven deliberations by the joint conference of the Social Capital Development Council and the Central Environment Council. According to the report, the Ministry of the Environment partially revised its ministerial ordinances concerning review of notification forms and detailed construction order for demolition work.

## (8) Law for the Promotion of the Utilization of Recyclable Food Resources (Food Recycling Law)

The rate of recycling, etc. of recyclable food resources in fiscal 2007 was 54% for the whole food industry. Concerning the recycling rate of each business category, 81% for the food manufacturing industry, 62% for the food wholesaling industry, 35% for the food retailing industry, and 22% for the food service industry, showing differences among the industries.

According to the law that revised part of the Law for the Promotion of the Utilization of Recyclable Food Resources, which was enforced in December 2007, the Ministry of the Environment is making efforts including approval of the recycling business plan implemented by the parties concerned in cooperation with one another to achieve the target implementation rate (shown in the basic policy based on the provision of Paragraph (1), Article 3 of the same law) of the recycling, etc. of recyclable food resources by food-related business operators.

## (9) Law for the Recycling of End-of-Life Vehicles (End-of-Life Vehicle recycling Law)

### A. Enforcement Status

Since the Vehicle Recycling Law was enforced completely in January 2005, among the business operators affected by the law, the following have been registered and approved by the 47 prefectures, etc.: about 77,600 vehicle collecting companies, about 17,600 fluorocarbons collecting companies, about 6,700 vehicle dismantling companies, and about 1,300 vehicle crushing companies.

The national government, in cooperation with the relevant