Material Cycles and Waste Management Research
Online ISSN : 2187-4808
Print ISSN : 1883-5864
ISSN-L : 1883-5864
Special Issues : Constructing a New Circular Economy : Comparison between Japan and the EU
Comparative Review of Waste Prevention Policies in the EU and Japan
Shin-ichi Sakai Junya Yano
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2015 Volume 26 Issue 4 Pages 290-304

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Abstract

This paper reviews and discusses the current situation with regard to 2R (Reduce, referring also to waste prevention, and Reuse). It provides definitions and indicators, introduces background on policy and behavior, and presents prevention effects from the life cycle perspective. It notes that the definition of waste prevention in the EU includes not only the reduction of waste quantities but also toxic substances in materials and products. Findings reveal that although various waste prevention indicators have been proposed in the EU and Japan, the indicators actually adopted in policies are limited by certain issues, i.e. lack of data availability. Some current challenges for the promotion of waste prevention include 1) making the definition of waste types clearer ; 2) developing a standardized, consistent monitoring method ; 3) clarifying the causal linkage between prevention effects and the behavior of stakeholders ; and 4) quantifying the environmental effects of waste prevention. Alongside challenges such as these, waste prevention policies have gradually been developing in the EU and Japan. A proposed method using life cycle assessment for quantifying prevention effects is also reviewed. It will be important to promote waste prevention policies while also taking into consideration what waste types, related sectors, and behaviors should be prioritized with quantitative evidence.

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© 2015 Japan Society of Material Cycles and Waste Management
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