Promotion of the 3R Initiative

Transcription

1 Promotion of the 3R Initiative - Challenge to Establish a Sound Material-Cycle Society - Kazuyoshi OKAZAWA Ministry of the Environment Government of Japan

2 Background The 3R Initiative was endorsed at the G8 Summit held in 2004 at Sea Island, USA. Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle Initiative We will launch the Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle ( 3R ) Initiative at a Ministerial Conference in spring 2005 hosted by the Government of Japan (Source) G8 action Plan on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development adopted at the G8 Sea Island Summit

3 Ministerial Conference on the 3R Initiative Date: April 28-30, 2005 Venue: Tokyo, Japan Participants: G8 countries Asian countries China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam Other countries; relevant organizations Brazil, Mexico, South Africa; OECD, UNEP, Basel Convention Secretariat, the League of Arab States

4 Natural Resources Input Third: Material Recycling Recycle items which cannot be reused as raw materials. Concept of 3 Rs Production (Manufacturing, Distribution, etc.) Consumption First: Reduction Reduce waste, by-products, etc. Second: Reuse Use items repeatedly. Treatment (Recycling, Incineration, etc.) Discarding Fourth: Thermal Recycling Recover heat from items which have no alternatives but incineration and which cannot be recycled materially. Fifth: Proper Disposal Dispose of items which cannot be used by any means. Landfill disposal

5 Issues Discussed 1.Strengthening of domestic policies to implement the 3Rs 2.Reduction of trade barriers against the international flow of goods and materials 3.Cooperation between developed and developing countries 4.Cooperation among various stakeholders 5.Promotion of science and technology suitable for the 3Rs

6 Domestic policies to implement 3Rs - Current measures in Japan - Design for 3Rs Labeling via eco-labels Reduction of byproducts Use of recycled parts and materials Simplified packaging Use of reusable boxes Supply of eco-labeled goods Collection of packaging Green purchasing Carrying reusable bags Household waste sorting Bringing recyclables to collection stations Manufacturing Distribution Consumption Disposal Permit system for waste management firms and facilities Waste treatment standards Waste tracking (manifest) system

7 Cooperation between developed and developing countries Cooperation Focused on Waste Management Support for the development of master plans on waste management Holding of training/seminars Provision of materials/equipment for waste collection Grants/loans for landfill construction Cooperation for Promotion of the 3Rs Examples of support for policy formulation: Master plan on solid waste reduction Framework to promote industrial environmental management Master plan on industrial waste recycling

8 Cooperation among various stakeholders Community-Level Actions Important roles of local governments as coordinators Initiative of local administrative heads Cooperative waste sorting Private-Public Partnerships Sharing information on good practices Case studies (e.g., identification of successes/ failures or incentives in the partnerships)

9 Cooperation among various stakeholders (cont d) Partnership among Companies in Different Categories Eco-Town Projects for Development of 3R Hubs Development of hubs for the 3Rs Win-win (Economic and environmental benefits) Partnership between Exporting and Importing Countries Sharing information on the environmental aspects of products for environmental-sound recycling and disposal

10 Promotion of science and technology suitable for the 3Rs High-Priority Areas Research on regional material-cycle systems Research on material flows Development of 3R clean technologies Development of Design for the 3Rs technology International Cooperation Further development of material flow accounts (MFA) at the OECD Promotion of information sharing, exchanges of researchers, joint studies etc. Establishment of network among researches

11 Outcome of the Ministerial Conference Adoption of Chair s Summary Agree on further strengthening of a worldwide promotion of 3Rs under international cooperation Report to the G8 Government Summit at Gleneagles in the UK Hold a senior official level follow-up meeting

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