45
expected to be built. In addition, since environmentally sound management of
these wastes was often beyond the capacity of individual local governments, the
manufacturers of these appliances were expected to participate in the process of
managing these wastes.
(ii) Effective use of recyclable materials waste electrical and electronic equipment
contains large amounts of iron, aluminum, copper, and glass. These can be an
effective source of materials if they can be recovered efficiently.
The target areas of this act are the following four categories of home appliances:
1. Air conditioners
2. Television sets (cathode-ray tubes) and liquid crystal display types, excluding
those designed to be incorporated into a building and that do not use primary
batteries or storage batteries for their power source, as well as the plasma types
3. Electric refrigerators and freezers
4. Electric washing machines and clothes dryers
Also, flat-screen television sets (liquid crystal display and plasma types) and
clothes dryers were added to the designated categories in April 2009.
Among other typical waste electrical and electronic equipment items, personal
computers are managed under the previously discussed act called Act on the
Promotion of Effective Utilization of Resources (1994). Also, small electronic appliances such as mobile phones have been managed under a new law called Small
Electrical and Electronic Equipment Recycling Act since 2013.
3.2.2 Overview of Electronic-Waste Recycling
Environmental management policies need to focus on, among other topics, (i) recycling of Electronic-waste, particularly its costs aspects, and its implications for (ii)
reductions (if any) in the generation of greenhouse gases and (iii) reductions in the
use of resources such as metal and precious metals. Earlier we discussed cost issues
associated with the transportation of recycled Electronic-waste. How do such recycling costs compare with the tangible benefits of recycling (e.g., the commercial
value of metals recycled, etc.)? Such cost and benefit trade-offs and analyses may
ultimately determine the publicly justifiable degree of recycling activities.
From Table 3.2, we see that Japan’s per capita Electronic-waste generated is considerably higher than that of Germany. Japan collects and recycles about a fourth of
its per capita Electronic-waste generated.
In later sections, we will further look at the European Union’s performance in
Electronic-waste recycling in comparison with Japan’s. Figure 3.2 shows the general upward trend in Japan’s waste electrical and electronic equipment over time. It
also shows a volatile pattern in the collection and recycling of total waste electrical
and electronic equipment units. This suggests the importance of public policies that
facilitate more robust performance in recycling activities.
3 An Economic Assessment of Present and Future Electronic-Waste Streams: Japan’s…
expected to be built. In addition, since environmentally sound management of
these wastes was often beyond the capacity of individual local governments, the
manufacturers of these appliances were expected to participate in the process of
managing these wastes.
(ii) Effective use of recyclable materials waste electrical and electronic equipment
contains large amounts of iron, aluminum, copper, and glass. These can be an
effective source of materials if they can be recovered efficiently.
The target areas of this act are the following four categories of home appliances:
1. Air conditioners
2. Television sets (cathode-ray tubes) and liquid crystal display types, excluding
those designed to be incorporated into a building and that do not use primary
batteries or storage batteries for their power source, as well as the plasma types
3. Electric refrigerators and freezers
4. Electric washing machines and clothes dryers
Also, flat-screen television sets (liquid crystal display and plasma types) and
clothes dryers were added to the designated categories in April 2009.
Among other typical waste electrical and electronic equipment items, personal
computers are managed under the previously discussed act called Act on the
Promotion of Effective Utilization of Resources (1994). Also, small electronic appliances such as mobile phones have been managed under a new law called Small
Electrical and Electronic Equipment Recycling Act since 2013.
3.2.2 Overview of Electronic-Waste Recycling
Environmental management policies need to focus on, among other topics, (i) recycling of Electronic-waste, particularly its costs aspects, and its implications for (ii)
reductions (if any) in the generation of greenhouse gases and (iii) reductions in the
use of resources such as metal and precious metals. Earlier we discussed cost issues
associated with the transportation of recycled Electronic-waste. How do such recycling costs compare with the tangible benefits of recycling (e.g., the commercial
value of metals recycled, etc.)? Such cost and benefit trade-offs and analyses may
ultimately determine the publicly justifiable degree of recycling activities.
From Table 3.2, we see that Japan’s per capita Electronic-waste generated is considerably higher than that of Germany. Japan collects and recycles about a fourth of
its per capita Electronic-waste generated.
In later sections, we will further look at the European Union’s performance in
Electronic-waste recycling in comparison with Japan’s. Figure 3.2 shows the general upward trend in Japan’s waste electrical and electronic equipment over time. It
also shows a volatile pattern in the collection and recycling of total waste electrical
and electronic equipment units. This suggests the importance of public policies that
facilitate more robust performance in recycling activities.
3 An Economic Assessment of Present and Future Electronic-Waste Streams: Japan’s…