The system to recycle used household electric appliances, which was introduced in 2001, has contributed to a reduction in the amount of garbage dumped at waste-disposal sites and promoted reuse of precious resources from discarded appliances. It is believed to have aided the development of recycling technologies and the establishment of waste recycling as a business.
The system is currently under review by the Environment Ministry and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry so as to increase the ratio of used appliances properly collected for recycling by the manufacturers and to prevent illegal dumping. Manufacturers should also consider reducing the fee charged to consumers for recycling used appliances, which is seen as one reason behind the lingering problem of illegal dumping.
When they get rid of TV sets, refrigerators, air conditioners and washing machines, consumers cannot dispose of them as municipal waste, but need to pay recycling fees to have them collected by retailers. The retailers hand over the appliances to their manufacturers, which are required by the 2001 law to reuse the parts and materials including such metals as iron, copper and aluminum for their new products.