A book titled “Regulations and Risk Management for Waste Recycling and Resource Circulation” authored by Kenji Sarukura and others was published. (Kinzai Institute for Financial Affairs, Inc., November 27, 2025)
Regulations and Risk Management for Waste Recycling and Resource Circulation
https://store.kinzai.jp/public/item/book/B/14598/
[Book Introduction]
Accurately understanding increasingly complex environmental regulations to protect companies from major risks.
– If waste processing is deemed illegal, companies may be required to bear costs on the scale of billions of yen, and recycled products may be regarded as waste, leading to administrative guidance or even criminal cases.
– The risks associated with waste recycling are diverse, and when these risks materialize, damage to management can be extremely serious. This guide introduces the latest laws, such as the Plastic Resource Circulation Act, and provides a thorough explanation of legal regulations and risk management in the field of waste recycling and resource circulation, based on real cases, offering practical tips for risk avoidance.
– Packed with practical knowledge for achieving sustainable management, this is an essential handbook not only for on-site personnel but also for those in corporate planning and general affairs.
[Table of Contents]
Chapter 1: General Overview – The Need and Background for Waste Recycling
The need for waste recycling (resource circulation) / Violations of waste recycling regulations are not someone else’s problem / Waste recycling regulations are highly specialized and subject to broad administrative discretion.
Chapter 2: Corporate Risks from Violations of ESG Environmental Regulations
Risks and examples of legal violations / Additional regulatory risks from municipal ordinances /The broad scope and opacity of administrative discretion
Chapter 3: Regulations Related to Waste Recycling (Overview and Practical Points)
Waste Cleaning Act / PCB Waste Special Measures Act / Various recycling regulations / Examples of overseas regulations related to recycling
Chapter 4: Practical Issues in Recycling Unwanted Materials
Section 1: Criteria and Examples for Determining Whether an Item is Waste or Valuable Material
Definition of “waste” under the law / Practical criteria for judgment / Timing for determining whether something is waste / Specific cases where waste classification is an issue / Approaches to recycling unwanted materials
Section 2: Determining Whether Waste is Industrial or General
Industrial waste vs. general waste / Business-related waste requiring special attention / Specific problematic cases / Issues arising from misclassification of waste
Section 3: Identifying the Waste Generator Responsible under the Waste Cleaning Act
Definition of waste generator / Leased items / Parts generated from repair and maintenance services / Waste generated from tenant buildings / Waste generators for unsold products in retail stores / Warehouse-stored items decided for disposal / Waste collected in in-store collection boxes / Packaging materials and pallets / Construction waste (waste generated from construction work) / Residual equipment left after building demolition / Underground structures excavated during construction / Handling cases involving waste from multiple companies / Trade-ins
Section 4: Issues in Storing Waste
Standards for waste storage / Transshipment and storage / On-site storage and burial vs. illegal dumping / Residual underground structures and illegal dumping
Section 5: Issues When Outsourcing Waste Collection, Transportation, and Disposal (for Consignors and Consignees)
Self-processing or outsourcing by businesses / Verification of contractors / Conclusion of consignment contracts / Payment of consignment fees / Issuance and collection of manifests / Obligations arising when the waste generator outsources processing / Periodic administrative reporting by the waste generator / Additional regulations by ordinances
Section 6: Cases Where Permission for Collection, Transportation, or Disposal Businesses is Not Required
Consignment of materials intended solely for recycling / Trade-in of used products / Single-use medical devices
Section 7: Special Certification System for Collecting and Recycling Used Products
Wide-area certification system under the Waste Cleaning Act / Plastic Resource Circulation Act / Food Recycling Act / Recycling Business Sophistication Act
Section 8: Purchase of Recycled Goods and the Secondhand Goods Business Act
Overview of the Secondhand Goods Business Act / Overview of regulations and practical points to note
Chapter 5: Responding to Administrative Actions and Guidance by Local Government
Acts subject to administrative penalties and sanctions / Response when illegal dumping or other violations are discovered / Formulating measures to prevent recurrence after misconduct is uncovered
Chapter 6: Legal Compliance Review and Various Systems When Considering New Businesses
Resource circulation as a new business / The System to Remove Gray Zone Areas and examples / The System of Special Arrangements for Corporate Field Tests and the System to Demonstrate Innovative Technologies System (Regulatory Sandbox Scheme) and examples
