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Ignition and other fire-related incidents have been increasing at municipal waste treatment and small waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) recycling facilities in Japan. To understand the current status of lithium-ion battery (LIB)-caused ignition and other incidents and to provide information necessary for countermeasures, we conducted interviews at municipal treatment facilities, did real-time monitoring at a treatment facility, and surveyed LIB mixed in non-combustible waste. Several treatment facilities had more than 0.1 ignition and other incidents per tonne of non-combustible and bulky waste collected in FY2020. These accidents were attributed to LIBs in 80–90 % of the cases, primarily because of physical impact on the LIBs during the crushing/shredding stage, even though LIB-containing small WEEE accounted for only about 0.3 % of the total weight of non-combustible waste. The best way to prevent the occurrence of such LIB-caused ignition and other incidents is to avoid crushing/shredding LIB-containing small WEEE. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To clarify current collection rules of waste batteries in municipal waste management in Japan and to examine future challenges for hazardous substance control and safety, we reviewed collection rules of waste batteries in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area. We also conducted a field survey of waste batteries collected at various battery and small waste electric and electronic equipment (WEEE) collection sites in Tokyo. The different types of batteries are not collected in a uniform way in the Tokyo area, so consumers need to pay attention to the specific collection rules for each type of battery in each municipality. In areas where small WEEE recycling schemes are being operated after the enforcement of the Act on Promotion of Recycling of Small Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment in Japan in 2013, consumers may be confused about the need for separating batteries from small WEEE (especially mobile phones). Our field survey of collected waste batteries indicated that 6–10% of zinc carbon and alkaline batteries discarded in Japan currently could be regarded as containing mercury. More than 26% of zinc carbon dry batteries currently being discarded may have a lead content above the labelling threshold of the EU Batteries Directive (2006/66/EC). In terms of safety, despite announcements by producers and municipalities about using insulation (tape) on waste batteries to prevent fires, only 2.0% of discarded cylindrical dry batteries were insulated. Our field study of small WEEE showed that batteries made up an average of 4.6% of the total collected small WEEE on a weight basis. Exchangeable batteries were used in almost all of mobile phones, digital cameras, radios, and remote controls, but the removal rate was as low as 22% for mobile phones. Given the safety issues and the rapid changes occurring with mobile phones or other types of small WEEE, discussion is needed among stakeholders to determine how to safely collect and recycle WEEE and waste batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metals like mercury that are emitted into the environment remain there indefinitely, posing a long-term threat to both the environment and human health. Elemental mercury is volatile and is in gaseous form, and because of the long residence time, transported over long distances. Comprehensive control of mercury emissions therefore remains an important international issue. The crucial steps for designing effective approaches for such control include the quantification of mercury emissions by sources and the identification of geographical characteristics of the emissions. In this study a detailed, high-resolution inventory of Japanese mercury emissions in 2005 was developed to improve understanding of their geographical distribution. Proceeding from a national emissions inventory per source category, emissions were spatially allocated with increasing geographical resolution in a stepwise procedure using statistics from geographic information resources, yielding mercury emissions per prefecture, per municipality and per grid cell of approximately 1 × 1 km. The five prefectures with the highest emissions were Fukuoka, Yamaguchi, Hyogo, Oita, and Hokkaido, accounting for 35.2% of all emissions. In each prefecture a small number of municipalities account for a major share of emissions. Distribution by grid cell is characterized by a concentration of 50% of all emissions in a mere 32 of the 255 954 grid cells over which emissions are distributed in this study. It was also quantitatively confirmed that use of larger grid cells leads to greater uncertainty in emissions distribution. Problems with data collection are clarified and measures to improve the accuracy of future estimation are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted a product flow analysis (PFA) for 94 consumer durables in Japan to obtain a complete picture of the domestic flow. Data on domestic shipment, average weight and average lifespan of each product was surveyed and estimated based on statistics and product catalogues of manufacturers. Then, the amount of domestic shipment and waste from households and enterprises was estimated as inflow and outflow of the system. This is the first report on the complete picture of domestic product flow of consumer durables in Japan. From the results, the target items of Japan''s recycling laws are considered reasonable from the viewpoint of landfill waste reduction because the total waste weight of the nine target items accounts for 68% of the total of 94 items. The number of waste products was relatively large for items such as cellular phones, VCRs and notebook PCs, which contain numerous hazardous and/or valuable substances, although their waste weight was small. The waste product collection ratio for the nine target items remains at 2–56% on a weight basis (4–59% on a number basis) due to the fact that some waste products are taken to industrial waste treatment facilities and exported. In addition, in the post-consumer stage, the flow has not yet been identified for 46–68% of the waste products of the 94 items in weight (82–86% in number). These products might be treated as municipal or industrial waste, exported, or illegally dumped and their flow should be clarified through further research. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Effects of product price rises on metal consumption, GHG, and sales are analyzed. • 5% price rise reduces iron, copper, and aluminum use by 6, 1, and 2 thousand tons. • 5% price rise increases GHG by 506 KtCO 2 eq. and reduces sales by 56 billion JPY. • 30% price increase can reduce both metal consumption and GHG emissions. • Business models should be developed to overcome the resulting decrease in sales. This study examined the effects of product price increases on metal consumption, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and product sales via changes in the product replacement decisions of consumers. A dynamic discrete choice model was applied to air conditioners (ACs) in Japan to determine these effects when product price is increased by from 5% to 30% in 5% increments. To illustrate, a 5% increase in air conditioners was shown to reduce consumption of iron, copper, and aluminum by six, one, and two thousand tons, respectively, while increasing GHG emissions by 506 kt-CO 2 eq. and decreasing product sales by 56 billion Japanese yen. Thus, product price increases for ACs led to a reduction in material consumption while decreasing product sales. The effect on GHG emissions depends on the level of the product price increase. These interactions suggest that consumers will use products longer so long as the value of the product's enhanced durability and longevity matches the increased price of the product. Efforts to improve product durability and longevity, however, will require that AC companies explore new business models in order to cope with the anticipated decrease in product sales as the transition to a circular economy continues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

National accounts for material stocks and flows are reported regularly by an increasing number of countries to promote a sustainable use of our natural resources. In this research we build upon the work of Herman Daly and Donella Meadows and propose a framework that links material stocks and flows to a conceptual hierarchy of ends and means which are societal benefit and natural capital. We introduce a set of six indicators that link together to quantitatively relate material consumption and societal benefits: material productivity, primary material use rate, stock retention time, stock productivity, service productivity, and service utilization. We apply this analytical framework to accounts of the material stocks and flows of Japan for the period 1990 to 2015. We find that Japan's material flow productivity doubled from 1.6 US$/kg to 3.2 US$/kg. This improvement can be primarily attributed to improvements in stock retention rates and circular material use, but has been offset by decreasing productivity of Japan's material stocks from 0.2 US$/kg to 0.14 US$/kg. We discuss the future potential of our indicator framework to include additional indicators for specific sectors and argue for the need for proper measurements of societal services and human wellbeing to enhance the policy implications of the indicator framework. • We present a framework of 6 indicators to study stocks, flows, and services. • The indicators address productivity, circularity, service provision, and wellbeing. • The framework quantifies the means-ends approach to sustainable development. • We apply this framework to new stock & flow accounts for Japan 1990–2015. • Japan's material productivity improved due to circularity and stock retention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Breast cancer has emerged as one of the most frequent malignancies among Japanese women; however, the long-term survival of Japanese breast cancer patients is uncertain., Methods: We analyzed the chronological changes in the clinical and pathological characteristics, treatment procedures and the long-term prognosis of 15 416 Japanese women with 16 217 primary breast cancers treated in the Cancer Institute Hospital in Tokyo between 1946 and 2001., Results: Our analysis revealed a chronological increase in the mean patient age, postmenopausal patients and non-invasive carcinomas. Operative procedures became less extensive, with approximately 45% of breast cancer patients in 2000-2001 receiving breast-conserving treatment. Radiotherapy to the regional lymph nodes decreased, while postoperative chemotherapy and hormonal treatments have become more frequent. The survival rate has improved steadily during the past 5 decades. The 10-year crude overall survival rate improved from 61% before 1960 to 83% in the 1990s., Conclusions: The survival rate of Japanese women with breast cancer has dramatically improved during the past 5 decades.