Abstract
A recycling scheme for containers and packaging waste was introduced in Belgium and Japan at the same time. Belgium has since achieved the highest recycling rate for containers and packaging waste among EU membership countries. Moreover, Belgium has achieved this rate while maintaining a low management cost. Fost Plus is a non-profit organization set up and financed by industry; it has coordinated and financed the selective collecting, sorting, and recycling of household containers and packaging waste in Belgium. In this study, Fost Plus staff members were interviewed and surveys were conducted on related literature that examines recycling accomplishments for containers and packaging waste in Belgium from the quantitative and financial viewpoints. Lastly, the study also analyzes factors such as cost efficiency of recycling in Belgium as compared to that of Japan. Results suggest that certain improvements in the recycling scheme for household containers and packaging waste need to be made in Japan.
