【Special Issues: Recycling System of Personal Computers in Japan】

Municipal Measures Against Voluntary Take-Back and Resource Reconversion Systems


Hajime Shoji
Director of Investigation and Public Relation Department, Japan Waste Management Association
（IPB Ochanomizu Building, 3-3-11 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 133-0033 Japan）


Abstract
Based on the Law for Promotion of Effective Resource Utilization, the voluntary Recycling system（voluntary take-back and the resource reconversion）for post-consumer personal computer（PC）by manufacturers is set to start on October1, 2003.
Due to the fact that the system is voluntary and not all businesses have consented, it will not be possible to collect all used PCs under this system. Municipalities which are responsible for the management of municipal solid waste（MSW）are therefore considering how to cope with the voluntary system to be carried out by business entities.
Municipalities are hoping to stop collecting all post-consumer PCs, or to collect them for fees that are equal to or higher than the recycling fees consumers are required to pay PC manufacturers for recycling. The voluntary take-back system will not being fulfilling its original function if municipalities collect them as waste. A controversy has developed about whether municipalities can stop the collection of post-consumer PCs, or try collecting them separate from other types of household MSW.
I intend to prove under the legislative framework of a recycling-oriented society, that municipalities can do this even while they are still responsible for MSW.


Key words: Law for Promotion of Effective Resource Utilization, specified resource-reconverted product, voluntary take-back and resource conversion, municipal responsibility for municipal solid waste, Home Appliances Recycling Law