Government of Japan established the Basic Environment Plan in 1994, and it was amended in 2000. At the same time, the Basic Law for Establishing a Sound Material-Cycle Society was enacted. The Basic Law aims to promote sound cyclical use and disposal of waste and the like, and prioritize the following actions in order of number: (1) restricting generation, (2) reuse, (3) recycling, (4) heat recovery, and (5) the correct disposal of waste and the like. A new socioeconomic system needs to be created where responsibilities and costs on waste treatment and recycling are shared among industries, consumers, local governments and the national government as necessary. In such system, there should be incentives to reduce waste generation and recycle at each stage of product development, manufacturing, import, distribution, consumption, collection and recovery.

 

"Waste Management and Public Cleansing Law", "Law for Promotion of Effective Utilization of Resources", "Container and Packaging Recycling Law", "Electric Household Appliance Recycling Law" etc.

 

 

Policy financing for establishment of treatment facilities; and preferential tax treatment.

 

 

Under the Voluntary Action Plan on the Environment adopted by the Keidanren (Japan Federation of Economic Organization), measures are taken on promoting recycling and limiting the discharge of wastes.