【Special Issues: Examination of the Optimal State of a Recycling System and Technology】
Current Recycling Systems and Technological Trends
Shunsuke Aoyama
President, EX Corporation
（2-17-22 Takada, Toshima-ku, Tokyo, 171-0033 Japan）

Abstract
Recycling systems and technologies are introduced in different phases in Japan, i.e., materials/products production, distribution, consumption/disposal, and treatment/recycling. This report gives an overview of the recycling system and its technological trends in Japan which is the main subject of the research being conducted by the Recycling Systems and Technology Research Committee of JSWME. This report serves as a keynote outline of the Committee's work on this subject, attempting to classify recycling systems and technologies into several categories and providing descriptions of technological trends for each category. The overview expressed is based on the personal views of the author, who serves as chairman of the Committee.

Key words: recycling systems, recycling technology, natural resource productivity, natural resource utilization rate