Amount of Recycled Industrial Waste Increases, Amount Sent to Landfill Decreases in FY2007

Japan's Ministry of the Environment released on January 14, 2010, the results of its surveys on the discharge and treatment of industrial waste nationwide in fiscal 2007. According to the results, the total amount of industrial waste was about 419.43 million tons, an increase of about 1 million tons from fiscal 2006, and a decrease of about 3 million tons from fiscal 2005.

Of the total amount of the waste, 218.81 million tons (52%) were recycled, 180.47 million tons (43%) were treated with intermediate processes for reduction, and 20.14 million tons (5%) were sent to final disposal sites. The amount of waste recycled increased by 4.04 million tons from fiscal 2006 with the recycling ratio improving by 1 percentage point. Meanwhile, the amount of the waste sent to landfills showed a record low, decreasing by 1.66 million tons from the previous year, and maintaining the recent trend.

The industries that generated the largest amount of waste were utilities (power, gas, heat and water supply companies), which generated 22.8% of the total industrial waste, followed by agriculture (20.9%) and construction (18.4%). The three largest waste generators were the same as the previous year. The top three categories of industrial waste, which accounted for 80% of the total, were sludge (44.2%), animal excrement (20.9%), and rubble (14.5%).

With regard to recycling ratio, animal excrement, rubble, and scrap metal showed the highest rates of 96%, 95%, and 92%, respectively, whereas sludge, discarded alkalis, and waste acid had the lowest rates of 9%, 23%, and 29%, respectively.

Industrial Waste Going to Landfill Hits Record Low in FY 2001 (Related JFS article)
http://www.japanfs.org/en/pages/025633.html

Posted: 2010/04/18 06:00:15 AM