Japan Enacts Automobile Recycling Law

The Japanese Diet enacted the Law for Effective Reutilization of Used Auto Parts (Automobile Recycling Law) on July 5, 2002, with full enforcement to begin at the end of 2004. The law will require automobile makers and importers to recover and recycle materials from disposed cars, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) used in air conditioners, and safety airbags.

Regarding CFCs and CFC-substitutes used in automotive air conditioners, as an interim measure against depletion of the ozone layer, car owners will be required to purchase a 3,000 yen (about U.S.$25) coupon to recover and destroy the substances, based on a CFC Recovery and Destruction Law, effective October 2002 until the other law is enforced.

The Automobile Recycling Law states that car owners must pay the automakers designated recycling fee (probably about 20,000 yen, or U.S.$160 per vehicle) to an appointed body at the time of a new car purchase, and by the next car inspection for older cars (Japan requires that cars pass a periodic inspection). Five million used cars are scrapped each year in Japan.




Posted: 2002/08/22 06:55:24 AM
Japanese version