On February 13, 2020, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Ministry of the Environment held a briefing session on the Basel Convention in Tokyo. The Ministry of the Environment introduced an overview of the import and export of waste, etc., the latest trends of the Basel Convention (plastics), the trend of waste plastics in Japan, and the trend of waste plastics outside Japan.

Overview of import and export of waste, etc.

The import and export of Japanese wastes and specific hazardous wastes are regulated by waste treatment law and Basel Convention respectively.

The export confirmation and import license are based on the provisions of the waste treatment law of Japan. The import and export license shall be confirmed and approved by the Minister of environment, and shall be stipulated separately by the foreign exchange law and the Customs Law.

The Basel Convention is a regulation on the import and export of certain hazardous wastes, which is approved in Japan based on the foreign exchange law (the Minister of environment confirms to prevent environmental pollution).

The applicability of waste should be determined in consideration of the following factors:

1. The nature of the waste (in compliance with environmental standards, etc.)

2. Status of discharge (quality control before and during discharge, etc.)

3. Common disposal methods (whether there is a waste disposal case, etc.)

4. Is there transaction value (processing fees spent, etc.)

5. Owner's point of view, etc.

Recent trends in the Basel Convention (plastics)

1.Procedures under the Basel Convention

Regulations on the import and export of hazardous wastes: the principle of domestic disposal of hazardous wastes; the obligation of prior notification and consent to obtain by exporting countries; the obligations of re-importing of exporting countries in the case of illegal trade.

Anomalous substances: those with the characteristics of Annex 3 in Annex 1; those listed in Annex 2.

2. Background to the revision of the Annex to the Basel Convention (the issue of plastic waste)

In developing countries with low waste management capabilities, plastic waste may be improperly treated and eventually flow into the ocean.

With the amendments to the Annex to the Basel Convention, it is important to manage the export of plastic waste to developing countries.

3.Summary of the results of the Fourteenth Meeting of the Parties to the Basel Convention

1. Held in Geneva (Switzerland) from April 29th to May 10th this year;

2. Japan and Norway jointly proposed that dirty plastic waste not suitable for recycling be subject to the restrictions of the Basel Convention and decided at this meeting;

3. Decided to establish a marine plastic garbage partnership;

4. Adopt other technical guidelines;

5. In the future, while promoting domestic legal and technical responses, we will actively contribute to the work during the meeting, such as revising various guidelines.

Waste plastic trends in Japan

According to foreign development trends, we will continue to follow up the actual situation of waste plastic treatment and illegal dumping, and share information including local governments.

In addition, the following measures are being implemented:

1. Promote the recycling of plastic resources in accordance with the Plastic Resources Recycling Strategy formulated on May 31.

2. Promote the development of waste plastic recycling facilities as soon as possible, and establish a domestic resource recycling system.

3. For local self-government organizations that implement restrictions on the introduction of industries from outside the region, such as the implementation of prior consultations, it is required to relax the abolition of introduction restrictions or to speed up the rationalization of procedures.

4. As is known to all, we will promote the payment of appropriate disposal fees to emission owners, and at the same time, entrust local autonomous organizations to strengthen guidance to emission owners.

5. As an emergency measure, municipalities are required to actively consider the disposal of waste plastics in waste treatment facilities.

6. Increase the upper limit of the inventory of excellent certified processing enterprises (processing capacity × 14 days → 28 days) (implemented in September), and promote the processing of excellent certified government enterprises.

7. At the international conferences related to the Basel Convention, information on the import regulations of dirty plastics was collected and exchanged for use in the formulation of domestic countermeasures and contributed to the formulation of appropriate international rules.