Hiroshi Takatsuki

Environmental Preservation Center, Kyoto University
(Hon-machi, Yoshida, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-01 Japan)

Abstract

This paper outlines packaging waste in Japan. In detailed analysis of domestic wastes in Kyoto, packaging waste was measured by weight and by volume, and categorized according to material and type. As a result, it was found that packaging waste accounts for approximately 60% (by volume) of domestic waste.

According to packaging production statistics, about 55,000 million beverage containors (1993) and 50,000 million polyethylene trays (1994) are consumed annually in Japan.

A typical local government spends about 4yen per can and 9yen per PET bottle on disposal. Local government recycling rates remain at 20% for beverage cans and 17% for glass bottles. Finally, this paper emphasizes that recycling is important, but minimization and re-use are more important in reduction of packaging waste.

Key words: packaging, domestic waste, recycling, disposal cost, beverage containor