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 On August 20, IRRSG (international Rare metal & Recycling Study Group) held the E-WASTE SUMMIT 2015 at the Hamamatsucho World Trade Center Building in Tokyo, where active question and answer sessions followed the lectures given on all the topics regarding E-waste such as the domestic and international E-scrap markets, the related law (Basel Law) and the outlook for its revision, the E-waste processing and its profitability in non-ferrous smelters. As was expected, finally, the discussion focused on application of the Basel Law.

 Ms. Ritsuko Sanuki, a lecturer from Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry explained the revision of the Basel Law scheduled in September 2015. By modifying the current movement document (MD) form and clarifying and easing notification deadlines, import clearance procedures will be streamlined and clarified towards easing of regulations.

Appreciating the easing, recyclers also called for further easing in consideration of the Japanese steel manufacturers’ technologies. The range of hazardous wastes set by the Japanese government is so wide that it’s not easy to get the permission for importing even if the processors have abilities for processing them. Besides, there are a lot of problems including too much time required for import procedures.

In addition, as to used home electrical appliances, items to serve as standards of judgement were announced to be added.

→　Part of Ms. Sanuki’s lecture.

→　Q&A sessions on application of Basel Law.

　Many participants requested the Basel Law to be applied as a super Basel Law unique to Japan.

For example, Mr. Sato, president and CEO of Bioworld Corporation commented as the following slide.

 Ultimately, Basel Law could prevent from fully utilizing recycling technologies of the Japanese non-ferrous smelters.

The situation is shown accurately in the following conceptual diagram made by Mr. Kato of JMEC.

 Briefly, recycling raw materials don’t flow into Japan where the Basel Law requires complicated procedures. Although the Japanese smelters’ abilities are not so lower than those of American and European smelters, it’s difficult to collect raw materials due to the barriers of the Basel Law at the moment.

 Also, it is said that a Japanese non-ferrous smelter has already got or plans to get the Basel recognition not in Japan but in Indonesia. This might have happened because the company would try to increase the throughput outside in Japan to compete against European smelters.

 Mr. Komei Harada, a specially appointed researcher of the NIMS pointed out that Japan is a country where metal recycling and careful environmental measures are conducted in parallel. In order to take advantage of the Japanese extraordinarily excellent technological competence, he insisted that flexible application as a super Basel Law is required.

→　Part of Mr. Harada’s lecture.

(Edited by Sasaki)

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