Policy framework
National Action Plan
Do you have a National Action Plan or strategies on MPL?
Name: National Action Plan for Marine Plastic Litter (formulated in 2019)
– Brief description: In May 2019, the “National Action Plan for Marine Plastic Litter” was formulated. The action plan listed effective countermeasures to realize a world without additional pollution from plastic in the following eight fields: 1) Sound waste management systems, 2) Prevention of littering, illegal dumping and unintentional leakage of waste into the oceans, 3) Collection of scattered waste on land, 4) Innovation in development of and conversion to alternative materials, 5) Removal of plastic litter from the oceans, 6) Multi-stakeholder involvement and awareness-raising, 7) Sharing scientific information and knowledge: R&D and Monitoring, and 8) International cooperation.
Legal framework
Do you have legislation on MPL? (including waste management and circular economy)
– Name 1: The Waste Management and Public Cleansing Act
– Brief description: The legislation to protect living environments and improve public health through waste generation control and appropriate waste treatment. Under the Waste Management and Public Cleansing Act, municipalities are obliged to formulate a basic waste management plan. In accordance with the national policy, the plan formulated by municipalities is required to show specific methods and target figures, such as “reduction of emissions per capita”, “recovery rate of resources from waste”, and “reduction of waste for final disposal”, as well as target values for cost efficiency of waste treatment.
– Name 2: The Container Recycling Law
– Brief description: Aims to reduce the amount of general waste and inform on how to effectively use resources. It clarifies the division of each role – consumers responsible for “emission control” and “separate emissions”; municipalities for “separate collection”; and businesses for “re-commercialization (recycling)”.
– Name 3: The Act on Promotion of Resource Circulation for Plastics
– Brief description: All entities involved in the process (i.e., from designing products to disposing plastic waste) will take measures to promote efforts (3R+Renewable) for the circulation of plastic resources.
Indicators
Do you have the MPL-specific indicators in your country?
If yes, list your indicators here:
“National Action Plan for Marine Plastic Litter” includes five indicators for monitoring progress:
(a) Amount of plastic waste generated, recycled, heat recovered, incinerated without energy recovery, and land filled
(b) Amount of collected land-based litter, illegal dumping, and scattered waste
(c) Amount of marine litter collected by clean-up activities
(d) Production capacity and amount of consumption of alternative materials such as marine degradable plastics and paper
(e) Increment of plastic waste generated, recycled, heat recovered, incinerated without energy recovery, and land filled, thanks to international cooperation
Measures
Measures:
Measures |
Achievements |
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Prevention and reduction of plastic waste generation |
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Charge for single-use plastic products (e.g. shopping bags, straws) |
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Names of actions: Targeted products: Brief description: |
We see a positive improvement from last two years Numerical data if any: (reference) (Japan Comprehensive Economic Research Center Co., Ltd) |
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Actions for encouraging sustainable / circular product design |
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Names of actions: Brief description: |
We do not see any particular trend Numerical data if any:
(reference) |
Measures |
Achievements |
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Environmentally sound waste management |
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Enforcement of proper waste management system |
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Names of actions: Brief description: ii. Installation of recycling facilities to increase domestic recycling capability and to improve recycling of polystyrene foam boxes often used in fisheries with updated technology; iii. Enforcement of collection and appropriate treatment of agricultural-generated used plastic in collaboration with related associations; iv. Enforcement of onshore collection and appropriate treatment of plastic wastes, such as used fishing gear by guidelines developed in 2020; v. Support ODA programs in developing countries for waste regulations, capacity and institutional building for waste management, formulation of action plans, and installation of high quality environmental infrastructure such as waste-to-energy plants. |
We see a positive improvement from last two years Numerical data if any:
(reference) |
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Prevention of littering, illegal dumping and unintentional leakage of waste into the ocean |
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Names of actions: Brief description: ii. Support beverage industry association to install PET bottle collection boxes next to vending machines to achieve 100% recycling; iii. Prevent unintentional leakage of plastics through appropriate use and proper management of fishing gear by fishers. |
We do not see any particular trend Numerical data if any:
(reference) Estimated amount, excluding the amount collected on the coast, based on the amount collected by prefectures and municipalities “Amount proportion of plastics “: |
Others |
The “MARINE Initiative” was launched focusing on (1) Management of wastes, (2) Recovery of marine litter, (3) Innovation, and (4) Empowerment including provision of training for 10,000 officials engaging in waste management all over the world by 2025. Based on the MARINE Initiative, Japan, in cooperation with international organizations, has implemented numerous projects to tackle marine plastic pollution. |
Measures |
Achievements |
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Cleanup of marine plastic litter |
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Collection of scattered waste on beach |
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Names of actions: Brief description: ii. Support of the “Adopt Program” for citizens to carry out cleaning, beautification and management activities with a strong attachment to local public areas; iii. Support to clean-up and litter collection activities in cooperation with river administration authorities, local governments, and residents. |
We do not see any particular trend Numerical data if any:
(reference) http://www.env.go.jp/water/marine_litter/pamph.html Total litter: The above data describes the amount collected by local government. Marine plastic litter: estimated by multiplying the volume of processed litter by the proportion of plastic litter calculated through sample survey. |
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Removal of plastic litter from the ocean |
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Names of actions: Brief description: ii. Support collection of marine litter by fishers in collaboration with local governments/communities. In order to expand this effort, a demonstration project was started from FY2020. In addition, when fishers volunteer to collect marine litter, the national government has started to provide the litter processing cost for fishers to collect marine litter voluntarily. Support for fishers in 30 prefectures has been decided. Financial support is provided for fishery cleanup activities carried out by fishers who were forced to suspend their operations due to the effects of COVID-19; iii. Collection of floating marine litter using marine environment maintenance vessels in enclosed sea areas, and by port administration authorities in port areas. |
We do not see any particular trend |
Measures |
Achievements |
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Promotion of innovative solutions |
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Policy actions for encouraging plastic alternatives (e.g. biodegradable plastics, circular product design – including use of recycled materials or closed loop recycling and so on’) |
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Brief description: ii. Support for development of marine biodegradable plastic especially for fishing gear; iii. Support for replacement of plastic products with paper, marine biodegradable plastics, cellulose materials, etc. through the “Project on building a recycling system for plastics to support decarbonized society”. The support was started for actions on microbeads in FY2020, and continued for measures on other plastic materials as well in FY2021; |
We see a positive improvement from last two years Numerical data if any:
(reference) |
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Public-private partnerships for creating and implementing innovative solution |
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Brief description: ⅱ. From FY2020, a study was started to develop fishing gear that is easy to recycle, such as gear made of a single plastic material and gear made of multiple materials that can be easily disassembled and separated; ⅲ.Development of an efficient decomposition method for plastic waste using micro-organisms. |
We see a positive improvement from last two years Numerical data if any:
(reference) |
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Others |
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Proposal to the international standard of a method for measurement of fiber fragment mass released from textile and products. |
Measures |
Achievements |
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Education and awareness raising |
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Education system for encouraging public awareness on MPL issues |
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“Plastics Smart” campaign was launched to encourage all stakeholders to prevent generation of marine litter |
We see a positive improvement from last two years Numerical data if any:
(reference) |
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Awareness raising campaigns related to MPL |
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National level: Brief description: Names of actions 2: Brief description: Names of actions 3: Good Practices for Reducing Microplastics Brief description: Local level: Brief description: International / Regional level: Brief description: The specific approaches are as follows; i. Creation of online platform to share good practices accomplished by the private sector ⅱ.Providing information on related policies for the private sector ⅲSharing positive case studies of good practices of private companies |
National level: Numerical data if any:
(reference) http://plastics-smart.env.go.jp/ Local level: We see a positive improvement from last two years International / Regional level: We see a positive improvement from last two years |
Measures |
Achievements |
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Monitoring & Scientific research on marine plastic litter |
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Actions for encouraging monitoring / scientific research on plastic flows and ocean surface microplastics |
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Names of actions 1: Brief description: “Guidelines for Harmonizing Ocean Surface Microplastic Monitoring Methods” http://www.env.go.jp/en/water/marine_litter/guidelines/guidelines.pdf Names of actions 2: Investigation and estimation of domestically-generated amount and routes, as well as an investigation into floating plastic Names of actions3: |
We see a positive improvement from last two years Numerical data if any:
(reference) Meeting materials for expert conference on measures against articles that drift ashore |
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Engagement in international/regional level actions for encouraging monitoring / scientific research on plastic flows and ocean surface microplastics |
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Names of actions: Brief description: MOEJ organized the “G20 workshop on harmonized monitoring and data compilation of marine plastic litter” in September 2020, and based on the Workshop results, started discussions and consultations with national and international experts to develop a data sharing system for ocean surface microplastics. |
We see a positive improvement from last two years Numerical data if any: (reference) Workshop website |
Challenges
Data collection related to marine plastic litter
Project delays due to COVID-19
Best practices
National level
Japan has recently promulgated the Act on Promotion of Resource Circulation for Plastics.
To comprehensively and systematically implement the promotion of resource circulation for plastics, basic policies should be formulated for the following items:
l Guidelines for design of plastic-containing products
l Rational use of specified plastic-containing products
l Sorted collection and recycling by municipalities
l Collection and recycling by manufacturers, sellers and other businesses
l Waste reduction and recycling by waste generating businesses
Local level
Support for collection and treatment of coastal marine litter by local government
We promote collection and treatment of marine litter by local governments, through the “Project for promoting local measures against coastal marine debris” based on the “Marine Litter Act” (FY2020 budget: JPY 3,695 million). In addition, fishery multi-functional measures (FY2020 budget: JPY 2,299 million) are being used to encourage fishers to take action on the collection and treatment of marine litter including marine plastics, for the maintenance and recovery of the marine ecosystem. Furthermore, we encourage local governments to cooperate with fishers so that they bring back to port any litter that they collect while they are fishing, making use of subsidies under the “Project for promoting local measures against coastal marine debris” based on the “Marine Litter Act”. In order to expand this effort, we started a demonstration project in FY2020. In addition, when fishers volunteer to collect marine litter, the national government has begun to provide full support for the litter processing cost, and has decided to support 30 prefectures. It also provides financial support for fishery cleanup activities carried out by fishers who were forced to suspend their operations due to the effects of COVID-19.
Private sector
Released “Good Practices for Reducing Microplastics” compiling a collection of good practices on the efforts and technologies of Japanese companies. Available from May 2021.
International cooperation
International cooperation to developing countries
Under the “MARINE Initiative” explained above in 3.2.3,Japan is supporting empowerment in developing countries to promote waste management, recovery of marine litter, and innovation, including provision of training for 10,000 officials engaging in waste management all over the world by 2025.
Japan will continue to provide support to ASEAN countries, based on the ASEAN+3 initiative, for various initiatives such as: awareness raising of local governments, citizens and business units; development of national action plans on marine litter; capacity building for proper waste management including waste-to-energy infrastructure; as well as promoting knowledge-sharing through “Regional Knowledge Center for Marine Plastic Debris”.
Also, Japan, in cooperation with international organizations, has implemented numerous projects to tackle marine plastic pollution. For example, Japan has earmarked over USD1,100,000 to support the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) for implementation of countermeasures against marine plastic litter in Southeast Asia and India (CounterMEASURE) by using novel technologies and methodologies to track plastic pollution to its sources along the Mekong and Ganges rivers. The project has also supported establishment of local partnerships for reducing plastic pollution. Since May 2020, the 2nd phase of CounterMEASURE has been implemented on a larger scale with Japan’s contribution (USD 5,700,000). The project aims to generate scientific knowledge on plastic pollution in the Ganges, Mekong, and selected rivers in Sri Lanka and to share and disseminate to inform policy and decision-making process at local, national, regional, and global level.
UNEP International Environmental Technology Centre (IETC) has been implementing the project on safe and environmentally sound managed treatment and technology on the COVID-19 related medical and plastic waste, based on the Osaka Blue Ocean Vision, with the earmarked contribution from the government of Japan (USD909,090). The project has been revealed the needs and demands for plastic waste management in Asia to apply and support introducing integrated solid waste management.
Further information
- National Action Plan for Marine Plastic Litter (Japanese only)
http://www.env.go.jp/water/Marine%20plastic%20litter%20countermeasure%20action%20plan.pdf - Resource Circulation Strategy for Plastics (Japanese only)
https://www.env.go.jp/press/files/jp/111747.pdf - the Bill for the Act on Promotion of Resource Circulation for Plastics
https://www.meti.go.jp/english/press/2021/0309_001.html - Subsidy for the local government (Japanese only)
http://www.env.go.jp/guide/budget/2019/19juten-sesakushu/032_3012.pdf - Good Practices for Reducing Microplastics
https://www.env.go.jp/en/water/marine_litter/gp_frmp.html - Clean Ocean Material Alliance
https://cloma.net/english/ - CounterMEASURE
https://countermeasure.asia/
Contact details
kaipla01@env.go.jp
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