Act on the Promotion of Saving and Recycling Resources.

This Act provides for the promotion of the recycling of resources, the proper treatment of wastes and the efficient use of resources. The Act consists of 5 Chapters divided into 42 articles: General provisions (I); Facilitation of recycling of resources, etc. (II); Recycling business mutual aid cooperatives (III); Establishment of foundation for facilitation of recycling of resources (IV); Supplementary provisions (V).
Any person who manufactures, imports or sells goods shall observe matters described in article 9 to control the occurrence of packaging wastes and facilitate their recycling. The Minister of Environment may get any manufacturer or any importer of goods, materials and containers which contain specific harmful substances to pay costs necessary to treat wastes (art. 12). The Minister of Environment may establish guidelines for classifying, storing and collecting recyclable resources, etc. Any manufacturer or any importer of goods and packaging materials shall recycle wastes from such goods and packaging materials or pay allotted charges to the recycling business mutual aid cooperatives. The producers liable to recycle wastes may establish the recycling business mutual aid cooperative and shall file an application for authorising the establishment (arts. 27 and 28). The State or local governments may subsidize or loan funds to any person who undertakes any project listed in article 31 in order to develop the recycling industry. The Minister of Commerce, Industry and Energy may set specifications and quality standards by item for the recycled goods in consultation with the Minister of Environment.