Japan
What do we waste?
In Japan, roughly 19.40 million tons of food waste were generated in 1996.
Of these, about nine percent, or 1.68 million tons, were recycled. Some 50,000 tons of food waste from households were recycled, which accounts for only 0.3 percent of the total.
Most of this garbage was incinerated and landfilled, contributing to Japan's growing shortages of final disposal sites.
Aware of this situation, the Japanese government enacted the Food Recycling Law in 2001, aiming to reduce food waste and promote recycling.
The law on food recycling requires all entities concerned in food waste at the stages of food production, distribution and consumption, including consumers, businesses, and the national and local governments, to endeavor to control waste generation, promote recycling, and reduce waste volume. Furthermore, the law requires all food-related businesses to increase their food waste recycling rates by 20 percent by fiscal 2006.
As a result, the food waste recycling rate increased to 20 percent in 2005 from less than 10 percent in 2002. Moreover, food-related businesses that are obligated by the law to take action boosted their recycling rate to over 50 percent in 2004. On the other hand, the recycling rate of household food waste has not risen. This is partly because very few local governments collect household food waste separately from other waste, although it would be an essential step to promote the recycling of this waste.
In Japan, waste is mainly categorized as industrial and non-industrial waste. Industrial waste emitters are responsible to dispose of their waste, either on their own, or by contracting the work to waste management companies. On the other hand, when it comes to non-industrial waste, local governments are responsible for the disposal of waste generated in their municipalities.
In Japan, roughly 19.40 million tons of food waste were generated in 1996.
Of these, about nine percent, or 1.68 million tons, were recycled. Some 50,000 tons of food waste from households were recycled, which accounts for only 0.3 percent of the total.
Most of this garbage was incinerated and landfilled, contributing to Japan's growing shortages of final disposal sites.
Aware of this situation, the Japanese government enacted the Food Recycling Law in 2001, aiming to reduce food waste and promote recycling.
The law on food recycling requires all entities concerned in food waste at the stages of food production, distribution and consumption, including consumers, businesses, and the national and local governments, to endeavor to control waste generation, promote recycling, and reduce waste volume. Furthermore, the law requires all food-related businesses to increase their food waste recycling rates by 20 percent by fiscal 2006.
As a result, the food waste recycling rate increased to 20 percent in 2005 from less than 10 percent in 2002. Moreover, food-related businesses that are obligated by the law to take action boosted their recycling rate to over 50 percent in 2004. On the other hand, the recycling rate of household food waste has not risen. This is partly because very few local governments collect household food waste separately from other waste, although it would be an essential step to promote the recycling of this waste.
In Japan, waste is mainly categorized as industrial and non-industrial waste. Industrial waste emitters are responsible to dispose of their waste, either on their own, or by contracting the work to waste management companies. On the other hand, when it comes to non-industrial waste, local governments are responsible for the disposal of waste generated in their municipalities.