The present regime for materials-circulation in Japan is based upon recycling plants that are highly advanced technologically and are able to supply high-quality secondary materials. However, since end-of-life products are currently more positively priced within the system, they are now being considered ‘goods’ as opposed to ‘buds’, and often being traded out of the regime as a result ; and are even being exported to developing countries. This results in low-quality recycling and a potential for pollution to be dispersed at the final destination. In order to stop this trend and start circulating these materials domestically, reverse logistics or transportation of end-of-life products, parts and materials must be thoroughly upgraded. By using advanced IT technologies and constructing a network among those who are transporting the end-of-life products, parts and materials, the value being added in the transaction of these commodities can be increased. As a result, it will be favorable to both trade and treat them in Japan, making the potential for pollution lower and the quality of recycling higher.

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The electronic manifest system was enacted in Japan according to an amendment of the Waste Management and Public Cleansing Law in June 1997. In December 1998, it was implemented in order to prevent illegal dumping and to procure the appropriate disposal of industrial waste. The system is seen as effective in that it complies with the new law, assures transparency of data, and helps to reduce the burden of paperwork and user costs. As a result, the number of users and manifest registrations have increased steadily each year, with recent shares of electronic manifest achieving ratings of 19% in FY 2009 and 23% in March 2010. The system has been revised three times and a new system, which was implemented in May 2010, has introduced a web-access system conjunction using the current EDI system. Although Japan implemented the electronic manifest system with the aim of leading the rest world in this area, several other countries have also successfully implemented systems like that of Japan. This paper describes the various situations tackling of the implementation of the system in the USA, Korea, and Taiwan.

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There are several cases where the electronic manifest system has been introduced for waste generators. Larger loads, however, including office work, substantially take on the solders of the waste collection transportation companies and the waste intermediate treatment companies. For this reason, this article focuses on the effects of such introductory cases of the electronic manifest system and related problems, especially when the system has been implemented by waste disposal companies.
At present, many general construction companies use the Application Service Provider at their construction sites for registration of the electronic manifest system. Since 2003, this registration method has been regarded as the most popular model by Japan Industrial Waste Technology Center in promoting the electronic manifest system.
The situation has not changed much since its inception with regard to effects and problems. The paper concludes with suggested examples for resolving current problems.

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The head office of Murata Manufacturing Co,. Ltd., which produces electronic parts including ceramic capacitors, started the operation of a part of the electronic manifest system in October 2001. Operations were stopped after only one year due to the following reasons : a) very few contractors are introducing this system ; b) there is quite a big difference between this system and the original waste control system. When JWNET made considerable improvements to the system in June 2006, we reconsidered its use and started to operate electronic manifest once again in 2007. Finally, our entire group (approximately 20 companies) installed the system in March 2009. We introduce the outline of electronic manifest in this paper from the viewpoint of a company that is dealing with waste discharge, reporting on our own introduction process and examples of how we rationalized its installation, as well as suggestions for its improvement.

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The Automobile Recycling Act has imposed an obligatory receipt and delivery of items such as ELV on dismantlers, etc. This system is a mechanism for allowing the information management center to collect data and understand all the figures for used cars and parts. It is effective in managing the conditions for executing the receipt and delivery of every used car.
This paper provides details on how the electronic manifest system can be newly introduced. It also outlines the current state of the electronic manifest system and describes problems surrounding its installation and use.

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Recyclable wastes destined for developing countries are often recycled using technologies that are environmentally unsound, resulting in pollution problems. A proportion of the recyclables being traded are often dumped without undergoing proper treatment. In order to ensure the sound treatment of such recyclables, traceability systems have been designed as pilot projects or established start-ups. This paper reviews the necessity of establishing a traceability system within the international market for recyclable materials. It also shows several attempts at ensuring traceability, such as a pilot project supported by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and Taiwan′s internet-based reporting system which requires importers in other countries to submit specific data regarding the receipt and recycling process for waste materials.

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The improper handling and trading of recyclable resources has the potential to lead to dispersal of various forms of pollution. The maximum utilization of recyclable resources, on the other hand, has become an urgent issue for Asian countries under present-day resource and environmental constraints.
After intensive discussions held by a group comprised of scholars, local governments and related industries, the Japanese government has concluded establishment of a traceability system that will act as an effective and powerful solution for the control of international resource circulation throughout Asia.
In order to create a new regime for managing international resource circulation in a sound manner, Resource Circulation Network has been founded. This will act as the certifying institution and work based on its own traceability system. RCN has been established as the result of collaboration between both public and private sectors.
This article overviews the background of the Network′s foundation and the process in which it was formed. The paper also defines roles and problems to be solved in the active operation of this Network.

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