Central Environment Council Submits Report on Ocean Dumping

The Central Environment Council, an advisory body to the Japanese Minister of the Environment, submitted a report on the practice of waste dumping at sea on December 22, 2003.

Since the 1996 Protocol, which is the revised version of the 1972 Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter (London Convention), is expected to take effect in 2004 or 2005, the council has made a proposal that Japan conclude the protocol.

The proposal includes:
(1) Discontinuing the ocean dumping of waste explosives and noncombustible general wastes, both of which are not listed as "wastes or other matter that may be considered for dumping" in Annex 1 of the 1996 Protocol
(2) Reviewing the existing Law Relating to the Prevention of Marine Pollution and Maritime Disaster, and implementing a permit system for ocean dumping in line with Annex 2 of the Protocol
(3) Prohibiting incineration of land-generated wastes at sea.

Based on the council's recommendation, the Ministry of the Environment intends to improve the nation's system to control ocean dumping.




Posted: 2004/04/06 03:25:48 PM
Japanese version