2003 JAPAN LAW: RECYCLING
Keywords: Environmental Law, Recycling, North Korea, Vehicle Recycling Law, Home Appliance Recycling Law
Copyright 2004. All rights reserved Attorney Roderick H. Seeman
===============================================================
What with DVDs and microwave ovens going on sale in the USA for $25-$35 during the Christmas 2003 shopping season, many will look with equanimity on the Home Appliance Recycling Law in Japan which went into effect in August 2001. Under that law, retailers accepting used appliances in Japan for recycling are required to collect a recycling fee of 2500-5000 yen from the owner. Thus it costs more to recycle an appliance in Japan than it often costs to buy it new in the USA. Amazingly, some branches of major appliance discounters, Biccamera and Yodobashi Camera were searched by the police on suspicions of violating the law by shipping the used appliances to North Korea, instead of recycling. One doubts that these used appliances are key to North Korea’s nuclear development capabilities. So what we have is that instead of giving used appliances to poor people who do not even have enough to eat, it is more important to protect the environment. In addition, for automobiles, with the implementation of the Vehicle Recycling Law, starting from January, 2004 a recycling fee of about 20,000 yen, depending on make, size, etc. will be imposed on vehicle owners when they go in for their “shakken” mandatory inspection. Automobile makers will be required to recycle the vehicles they produce. Try that on US auto owners. Politicians tremble when gas prices go up. The Governor of California loses his job when he sends a new increased automobile tax bill that arrives the very week he is up for recall on his job. An extra $200 for recycling?