International Review of Waste Management Policy - Department of ...

23.2.7 Country-specific Characteristics: Japan
In Japan, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry passed legislation in
October 1996 that adequately addressed the management and treatment of ELVs. 503
It stipulated that vehicle manufacturers must decrease the amount of lead used in
newly produced vehicles and also set clear targets for the recycling of ELVs. 504
The Recycling Law of 2005 further substantiates the legislation to include take back
responsibility for producers. It is based on a ‘shared responsibility’ principle. This is to
be paid for by the implementation of a recycling fee, added on to the cost of each
saleable unit. The different fees relate to the following vehicle types:
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� Small and compact car;
� Medium-sized car;
� Tracked; and
� Large bus.
This fee is paid before the initial registration of the vehicle. It is collected by the Japan
Automobile Recycling Promotion Centre (JARC) and is tracked through electronic
manifests until the vehicle’s end of life.
Reuse, recycling and recovery rates for ELVs have been set so that they mirror the
European targets set out under the EU ELV Directive.
If a vehicle is exported for sale or dismantling then the fee is refundable to the owner
disposing of the vehicle. In the first year of introduction of the policy the number of
ELVs decreased by a half to around 4.8 million. However, the export of used cars also
increased dramatically, indicating that cars were being exported before they were
classed as ELVs to take advantage of the refundable recycling fee.
23.2.8 Country-specific Characteristics: South Korea
There has been an obligation to take back ELVs in Korea since 1982. 505 However, in
2007 the Act for Resource Recycling of Electrical and Electronic Equipment and
Vehicles diversifies manufacturer’s responsibilities to include: 506
� Restrictions on the use of hazardous materials;
503 C. Kim (2007) A comparison of ELV system in Japan and Korea, Presentation for The Centre for
Business Relationships Accountability, Sustainability and Society,
http://www.brass.cf.ac.uk/uploads/elv_kim_c.pdf
504 1877 End of Life Vehicles.com (2008) Legislation, Accessed 15 th October 2008,
http://1877endoflifevehicles.com/legislation.cfm
505 C. Kim (2007) A comparison of ELV system in Japan and Korea, Presentation for The Centre for
Business Relationships Accountability, Sustainability and Society,
http://www.brass.cf.ac.uk/uploads/elv_kim_c.pdf
506 RJS Technical Consulting (2007) Act No. 6319 Resource Recycling, Accessed 20 th January 2008,
http://www.rsjtechnical.com/WhatisKoreaRoHS.htm
International Review of Waste Policy: Annexes