Figure 2-2 The Relation of Reduction of the Amount of Waste Disposal with the Amount of Greenhouse Gas Emission

as wastes in the process of collection of the resource. It is thought it will be necessary to improve Resource Productivity, considering the TMR that includes the hidden flow and the energy resources used at each stage of resource collection, and to further lower the collection level of resources from the present rate. As TMR data relies mostly on estimates, we are going to accumulate know-how through international opinion exchanges.

## (c) Amounts of inlet flow and outflow of the resources and products

The amount of materials in the form of products and goods exiting our country is about one fifth, compared with the amount of resources and products entering. The burden of nitrogen-compounds released into our public water areas and underground water, for example, is much more than other countries are experiencing and so huge because enormous amounts of nitrogen have been imported in the form of food and feeding stuff; the situation is such that the natural nitrogen circulation in those areas might have been destroyed. From the international viewpoint, this can be called a state where proper material circulation has not been secured.

## (d) "Cyclical use amount"

The amount of cyclical use is 240 million tons, while the Total Material Input Amount is 1.8 billion tons. The amount of cyclical use is presently measured by weight, however, it is also necessary to understand the recycling situation by adding the qualitative point of view, including investigations on the impact of the environmental burden from the point of life-cycle and recycling with higher value-added (or, closed recycle).

## (e) Amount of waste generation

The amount of waste generation still remains at a high level. It is important in terms of ensuring proper material circulation to hold down the generation of waste and eventually the discharge into the environment.

## (f) Amount of energy consumption

Global warming derived chiefly from the carbon dioxide emissions of fossil fuel resources is a critical problem which may have a serious effect on the living habitat of human beings. As the amount of energy consumption of our country is as high as 510 million tons or so, further promotion of energy consumption streamlining is inevitable.

## (g) The reduction of Greenhouse Gas from waste sector

The “Kyoto Protocol Target Achievement Plan” has set objectives concerning waste-related measures to reduce the emissions of Greenhouse Gas, and it aims to reduce about 7.8 million tons (carbon dioxide equivalent) in Year 2010. The Greenhouse Gas emission derived from wastes mounted to 40.83 million tons (carbon dioxide equivalent) in Year 2007, which is about 3% of the total amount of Greenhouse Gas emissions (1.374 billion tons carbon dioxide equivalent) of Japan.

The reduction amount of Greenhouse Gas emission by recycling of waste to reused fuel and by electric power generation using waste was about 15 million tons (carbon dioxide equivalent) in Year 2006, therefore it is reasonable to assume that the amount of emissions derived from wastes is starting to decrease when those Greenhouse Gas emissions mentioned above are deducted (Figure 2-2).

The waste reduction has a large effect on the reduction of the amount of Greenhouse Gas emission. The reduction of waste generation contributes to the decrease of Greenhouse Gas generation accompanied by incineration and land fill. It is important to reuse and recycle until nothing is left of any wastes, and to make the most efficient use of the energy contained in flammable waste that must be either incinerated or land filled.

Concerning the power generation facilities/heat utilizing facilities of private businesses, monetary support has been given for the improvement of higher efficient energy utilization which will contribute as a counter-measure to global warming. Having also executed demonstration experiments for the suspension of white smoke prevention equipment, we have made the results well known, because improvements to the operation/maintenance methods in waste dis