Tetsuo Murata

Professor, Osaka-gakuin University
(2-36-1, Kishibeminami, Suita-city, 564-0115 Japan)

Abstract

In 1970, the Law Concerning Waste Disposal and Public Cleanliness was enacted in Japan. This law was the most innovative to date in the field of the waste management administration. This law declared that business enterprises are responsible for the disposal of industrial wastes. But, the amount of industrial wastes has increased year by year, and the securing of final disposal sites has become more difficult. As a result, illegal dumping and other forms of improper treatment of wastes are often seen, and these produce a conflict between citizens fearing influences upon their health and dumpers/haulers. The 1997 Amendment of the foresaid Law aims to dissolve these problems and to improve the industrial wastes disposal, system. This Amendment includes the reformation of the license system to construct disposal facilities, the adoption of manifest system for all industrial wastes and others. But, this Amendment can not be considered a complete reformation of the legal system. There still remain plenty of problems. For future reformation of the industrial wastes management system, it is important to take in to account two points of view. One is administrative reformation and decentralization of government, and the other is the reexamination of the meaning of wastes.

Key words: illegal dumping, 1997 amendment of the Law administrative reform, decentralization of government, meaning of wastes