Country profile

Japan

Waste generation, collection, composition, treatment and policy statistics for Japan.

Indicator year 2022E. Asia & PacificHIC

Municipal waste generated321.9kg per person · 2022 · World Bank What a Waste 3.0 · reported value

Collection coverage100%2022 · World Bank What a Waste 3.0 · population coverage

Municipal recycling rate15.7%2022 · World Bank What a Waste 3.0 · reported treatment share

Uncollected waste0%2022 · World Bank What a Waste 3.0 · reported treatment share

Open dumping—No published value

Sanitary landfill0.8%2022 · World Bank What a Waste 3.0 · reported treatment share

Waste composition

World Bank What a Waste 3.0 · 2022 · reported material shares

Paper and cardboard33.3%

Food and organics28.3%

Plastic14.8%

Other materials10.8%

Glass4.7%

Metal4.4%

Textiles3.7%

World Bank What a Waste 3.0 · 2022 · reported treatment and disposal shares

Incineration77.2%

Recycling in treatment mix15.7%

Other treatment4.3%

Refuse-derived fuel1.2%

Sanitary landfill0.8%

Composting0.4%

Anaerobic digestion0.3%

Uncollected0.0%

National waste lawYes

National waste planCircular Economy Vision 2020

Responsible institutionMinistry of the Environment, Japan and each local government

Producer responsibilityYes

EPR operating statusLegally-binding regulations in place

Deposit-return systemNot reported