Solid Waste Mgnt.
Towards a 3R-oriented Sustainable Society: Legislation and Trends 2008 (METI)
1991 - First Recycling Law for Promotion of Effective Utilization of Resources
2001
- Revised the above Law and introduced 3R concept that gives priority to Reducing and Reusing over Recycling.
- Other laws enacted to promote 3R according to characteristics of products and its wastes: Home Appliance, Food, Green Purchasing.
2002 - Construction Waste Recycling Law
2000 - Law on Containers and Packaging Recycling
2005 - End of Life Vehicle Recycling Law
The amount of e-waste in Asia has risen by 63% in five years, UNU
China’s generation of e-waste more than doubled between 2010 and 2015
Hong Kong generated the highest amount of e-waste in Asia in 2015, an average of 21.7kg per person
Singapore and Taiwan created over 19kg per person in 2015.
Cambodia, Vietnam and the Philippines were among the lowest e-waste generators, with an average of about 1kg per person.
In Europe, the biggest per-capita tallies in countries that pride themselves on environmental consciousness
Topping the list for per-capita waste last year was Norway, with 28.4kg per inhabitant.
Switzerland (26.3kg)
Iceland (26.1kg)
Denmark (24.0kg)
Britain (23.5kg)
the Netherlands (23.4kg)
Sweden (22.3kg)
France (22.2kg)
the United States and Austria (22.1kg)
Issues
E-goods are made up of hundreds of materials
Toxic subtances
Contaminate land, water, air
Shortage of rare minerals for future use
Low rate of e-devices being dismantled and reused as it requires high tech and cost for 3R
Part of the problem is that computers, phones and other devices are becoming increasingly complex and made of smaller and smaller components.
Toxic e-waste is illegally traded to poor countries under false pretences of "used goods"
Solutions
Enhance international cooperation and legislative coherence
Strengthen national regulations and enforcement
Promote awareness and prevention measures