14 research groups are organized, each addressing different topics related to sustainable resource and waste management

Name Group description
Landfill research group Our research activity cover the definition of final waste disposal site stabilization, stabilization promotion technologies, and life-cycle management from landfill selection, pretreatment to site utilization after completion of landfilling. We will also study case studies from overseas.
Waste management policy research group We discuss issues related to waste management policy under the banner of “Rethink! Waste Management! Our members consist of local governments, academics, and private businesses members. Recent topics on the agenda include discussions on (1) waste management licensing, (2) definitions and classifications, and (3) decentralization.
Waste management planning research group Within the context of “green innovation”, we conduct activities to propose “a new way of waste planning” by questioning the conventional framework from the viewpoint of efficient operation and cost burden to realize reduction of environmental load and GHG emission, recovery or resource and heat energy recovery, etc.
Solid waste culture and history research group Our activities include; Research on the history of waste governance (institutions, technologies, systems, etc.) in cities; Research on the transition of waste legislation and its background; Research on the history of resource recycling efforts in each industry; Research on and introduction of the footsteps of predecessors .
Test and examination research group We identify research topics related to waste testing methods, study on the revision of industrial waste analysis manuals, environmental safety evaluation of recycled products, preparation and proposal of academic testing standards for asbestos analysis, and preparation of guidelines for waste testing methods
Waste incineration research group We will summarize and evaluate incineration as a means of intermediate treatment of municipal solid waste. We will also explore the ideal form of municipal solid waste incineration for a recycling-oriented society and a low-carbon society.
Consumer & citizens research group The promotion of the 2Rs (reuse and reduce) has been our recent focus. Specifically, we have been conducting research on the 2Rs promotion of containers and packaging at the point of sale, including the introduction of charge for plastic bags, the thorough implementation of EPR under the Containers and Packaging Recycling Law, and the 3Rs of clothing.
Biomass waste research group Our aim is to study methodologies for combining and disseminating elemental technologies as a system, and to carry out research on the development of a comprehensive utilization system for biomass-based waste for the formation of a recycling-oriented society.
Material flow research group We conduct research on management of material circulation based on their toxicity and resourcefulness. Examples include recovery of precious metals, rare metals, etc. from waste home appliances, etc., mutual verification of analysis of rare metals, etc., current status and prospects of material flows in major material industries.
Recycling system research group We investigate and study the optimization and efficiency of recycling from both system and technology perspectives. We try to reveal waste plastic treatment methods, treatment systems, and their costs, towards establishment of a sound relationship between the quality and value of the recycled products.
Industrial waste research group “The specific research activities we focus on include; Study of the current status of waste treatment technology, improvement of technology and standardization for the promotion of proper treatment and resource recycling; Study on the current status and rationalization of laws and regulations, facility construction standards, permit procedures, waste classification, etc., and improvement of operations.
Environmental educational facility research group Under the banner of “Environmental educational facilities that foster vitality and motivation in the community,” we develop networks of environmental educational facilities located in waste incineration facilities and recycling plazas/centers across Japan. Through the network, we share knowledge and experience, and work together on methods to measure the effectiveness and adequacy of their operations, as well as research methods to foster and support people who are voluntarily engaged in environmental conservation
Information and communication technologies research group Our aim is to advance waste treatment and recycling, conserve resources, reduce GHG emissions, and help resource recycling business by conducting technical and institutional studies through industry-government-academia collaboration on the application of information technology to the field of waste treatment and recycling.
Disaster waste research group Amid concerns about the occurrence of large-scale disasters such as the Nankai Trough Earthquake, we aim to record, accumulate, and evaluate experiences and lessons learned from past disaster waste management cases, to generalize and systemize the knowledge, and to use the results to improve the disaster response capability of society in preparation for future disasters.
The group also works closely with the International Relations Committe on providing support to disaster waste managemen in other Asian and Pacific countries (see some of the project outputs HERE)