Volume of generated waste Japan FY 2012-2021

In the fiscal year 2021, the total volume of waste disposed of in Japan amounted to approximately 41 million metric tons. The figure decreased steadily throughout the past decade, compared to around 45.2 million metric tons in fiscal year 2012.

 Waste generation in Japan

At around 30 million metric tons, household waste made up the largest volume of waste generated in Japan, while business-related waste constituted a smaller amount. Plastic packaging and plastic containers made up a substantial amount of household waste. The widespread usage of single-use plastic products and plastic packaging in Japan leads to huge amounts of plastic waste. The resulting pollution has become a major environmental issue.

 Waste management in Japan

With the incineration rate of municipal waste amounting to close to 75 percent, incineration remained the most widely used waste treatment method in Japan. In contrast, the recycling rate of regular waste remained low at close to 20 percent throughout the past decade. The remaining waste that cannot be recycled or incinerated is usually disposed of as landfill. Even though the volume of final waste disposal has decreased, Japan is facing a shortage of landfill sites, as the remaining capacity of landfill sites is shrinking.