[Grandpa Saw It!] Part 2: Did you know the Plastic Resource Circulation Act will be enforced from April!?

My heart is Gen Z! My body is a Showa-era person over 60! I am Grandpa, a supporter of Gen Z.

Well, the Ministry of the Environment's website has created a special site regarding the "Act on Promotion of Resource Circulation for Plastics," which will be enforced from April 1, 2022.

First, I looked at the background and goals of the new law. This time, the theme is: How will your plastic waste likely change?

This is the second part. It will make more sense if you read the first part first.

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✅ What is the information from the Ministry of the Environment!?

On January 19, 2022, the Ministry of the Environment issued the following notice regarding the Plastic Resource Circulation Act.

Along with the above announcement, a total of 11 documents were attached.

Since each local government is likely preparing to inform residents in accordance with "Guide for Separate Collection of Plastic-Used Product Waste" (Attachment 11) among them, let's check the contents of this guide.

✅ Are there options prepared for local governments!?

Until now, separate collection and recycling (re-commercialization) of plastic containers and packaging have been promoted based on the "Act on the Promotion of Effective Utilization of Resources (Containers and Packaging Recycling Act)", but I think there was also a lot of plastic that was collected and incinerated along with burnable waste.

The goal of this new law is to expand the amount of plastic resources collected by establishing sorting rules that are easy for residents to understand, and to "shift plastic from disposable to recyclable."

Therefore, the new law provides a mechanism that enables the recycling of not only plastic containers and packaging but also other plastic-used product waste.

In other words, the plastic toys from McDonald's Happy Meals that children look forward to will have to be collected and recycled.

There are two methods for that recycling: one where companies voluntarily collect and recycle, and one where local governments separately collect and recycle.

McDonald's has already announced that it will collect toys at its stores and recycle them into trays.

As for municipalities, specifically, based on Article 31 of the Act, they must strive to establish standards for the sorting of plastic-used product waste and inform residents so that it is properly sorted and discharged in accordance with those standards. is what is required.

Regarding the plastic-used product waste collected in this way,

① Based on Article 32 of the Act, a method of entrusting it to a designated corporation under the Containers and Packaging Recycling Act (Japan Containers and Packaging Recycling Association) to perform recycling

② Based on Article 33 of the Act, a method of performing recycling based on a certified re-commercialization plan by having the municipality collaborate with a re-commercialization implementer to create a re-commercialization plan and receive national certification

These are the two options to be chosen according to the situation of the municipality, but what do you think? It's complicated, right!?

Municipalities that select (1) must conduct separate collection in accordance with the "Ministry of the Environment Ordinance" established by the Ministry of the Environment.
Municipalities that select (2) are exempt from the application of the above standards for separately collected items, so please refer to the separately established "Guide for Application for Certification of Recycling Plans" as stipulated.

Now then, how many local governments will choose (2), and will it give momentum to plastic recycling?

✅ Material Recycling! Chemical Recycling! Thermal Recycling!

Post-war waste disposal in Japan began with taking trash to landfills, like "Dream Island," for disposal.

However, eventually, due to hygiene and landfill space issues, the method shifted to "burning" trash to reduce its volume before disposal.

Japan is a country with a high rate of simple waste incineration. Simple incineration, meaning just burning it.

If you are going to burn it anyway, some local governments recover the "heat" to provide heated pools for citizens. This is thermal recycling, which is the concept of reusing (recycling) waste as heat.

However, in Europe, which is ahead in plastic recycling laws, thermal recycling emits CO2, so the policy is to use material recycling or chemical recycling instead.

Material recycling is a recycling method where plastic waste is reused as raw material for new plastic products.

Recycling into the same product is called level material recycling, and recycling into raw materials for products in a lower category when the quality is insufficient for the original product is called down material recycling.

Chemical recycling is a recycling method where plastic waste is converted into other substances through chemical synthesis, which are then used as raw materials to create new products.

Although Japan, like Europe, aims for material and chemical recycling, the New Plastic Act also permits thermal recycling.

✅ Let's look at the sorting standards!?

Do you consider Scotch tape to be plastic waste?

Scotch tape is made by applying a rubber-based adhesive to "cellophane." Cellophane is actually made from wood chips, so it does not become plastic waste.

Leaving it up to consumers to distinguish which items have high plastic purity and sort them is quite a burden for the consumer side, isn't it?😊

The guide for that is the "Guide for Separate Collection of Plastic-Used Product Waste", and this should serve as the template for plastic waste sorting that local governments inform residents about.

1) Items that must not be included in separate collection
(1) Plastic-used product waste with dirt attached
(2) Items determined to be collected separately by other laws or plans based on laws
①
Containers made of polyethylene terephthalate that have become waste②
Used small electronic devices, etc. that have become waste③
Items with a side length of 50cm or more(3) Items that may significantly hinder the recycling of separately collected items
① Items that may cause fire during the recycling process of separately collected items
A.
Devices using lithium-ion batteries B. Items that may
cause fire during the recycling process of separately collected items ② Items containing or attached with
pathogens that people are infected with or may be infected with, or items that may contain them ③ Other items that may significantly hinder the recycling of separately collected items
A. Blades, etc. B. Items that affect recycling equipment

2) Items that may be included in separate collection
So, what is good to have collected separately as plastic waste that local governments will collect according to the Plastic Circulation Act? Let's end by looking at an excerpt from the guide.

You're surprised by how detailed the classification is, right!?

Keep an eye out for notifications from the local government where you live, okay!?
It will be enforced in April.It's just around the corner.

▼ A video (2 minutes) introducing the law featuring Kiyoshi Nishikawa, Sakana-kun, and Naomi Trauden has been released on the Ministry of the Environment's portal.
Please try accessing the video from below. Before that,I would appreciate it if you could click the "Like" 🤍 button😊

Thank you for reading until the end.

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