2011 Volume 22 Issue 2 Pages 125-139
Since Japanese recycling of PET bottles is largely affected by the fluctuating prices of PET materials, a stable and more sustainable recycling system will be required. As a means to better understanding the current situation, with regard to the domestic and international material flow of waste PET bottles and waste plastic recycling in China, this paper introduces the results of a statistics analysis and site investigation in China. The paper goes on to discuss future tasks in this area. First, in analyzing the domestic material flow of waste PET bottles in Japan, it was found that the origin of only half of the export amount (400 thousand tonnes in FY2009) of waste PET from Japan was accounted for. This indicates the need for a complete review of domestic material flow. Next, based on a trade analysis of waste plastics between Japan, China and Hong Kong, the direct export of waste PET from Japan to China saw an increase of up to 300 thousand tonnes in 2009. Finally, according to our site investigation of a plastics recycling facility in China, imported waste PET was processed into flakes or pellets at one recycling facility in most cases, and then further processing for recycled products is done at a different facility. The paper recommends that effluent treatment after the washing process needs to be taken into full consideration, and that it is necessary to take a better look at the problem of residue disposal.
