Japan's plastic recycling rate improves to 77% in 2010

According to a recent announcement of Japan's Plastic Waste Management Institute, the country has recycled 77% of plastic waste in 2010, up from 73% in 2006 and 39% in 1996.

The institute says plastic waste is recycled through reproducing into plastics, turning into chemicals and burning for energy. In 2010, the rates of recycling through these means were 23%, 4% and 49% respectively, all up by 2% compared with 2009, accumulating a total of 77%.

Japan has passed several recycling laws to address the disposal and treatment of plastic waste since 1997, when businesses and consumers were obliged to separate plastic waste for the first time. The list of plastic items that can be recycled has grown to include boxes and cases, wrappings, cups and containers, plates and trays, tube-shaped containers, lids and caps.

The institute states that enlarging the scope of recycling plastics has enhanced the lifecycle of landfills and has contributed to reducing carbon emissions.

The success of Japan's recycling system is largely attributed to good education in childhood. Not only are children taught to recycle at a small age, brochures for recycling for production have been published in the country. Published in April last year, these brochures cover eight types of plastics that can be best recycled and the response from students are said to be excellent.