Waste Management and Sustainable Material Cycles
Homepage: http://www.nies.go.jp/cycle/index-e.html
For Japan and the whole world, it is important to create the vision of what a sustainable world will look like. This will involve shifting societies toward sustainable material cycles and efficient use of resources, the minimization of waste disposal, and the reduction of environmental impacts to the lowest possible level.
At NIES we are conducting a broad range of research to help reduce the amount of waste actually generated, to recover resources from the waste, and to promote waste treatment that has low impact on humans and the environment. Our work includes research to explain key phenomena related to waste, as well as applied research for the development and evaluation of response technologies and systems. As one of the institute's priority research areas, in April 2001 we began active work on policy responses to these issues, aiming to achieve integrated waste management and to shift society toward lower environmental impact and sound material cycles.
Development of assessment methods and infrastructure
to support transition strategies for sustainable material cycles
The rudder has begun to turn our contemporary socio-economic
"ship"-based on mass production, mass consumption and mass disposal-towards
sustainable material cycles. However, a detailed map and accurate compass
are not yet available to point us in the right direction and show us the
destination. To this end, NIES is collecting a variety of information,
developing analytical methods, and conducting the research described below,
aiming to determine the course we must take to arrive at a society with
sustainable material cycles.
First, research is needed to correctly understand the current situation
and problems with our material flows. Using material flow analyses, NIES
is focusing on the "veins" of economic activity, particularly
waste management, disposal and recycling, to obtain fundamental information
on the overall situation of material flows connected with economic activities.
Second, in order to clarify how much various sectors of society (governments,
corporations, citizens) can contribute to the formation of sustainable
material cycles, we are clarifying the technologies and systems of truly
effective "cycles". This is be done using life cycle assessment
(LCA) techniques.
Third, in order to support effective "cycles" that make the
best of local differences, NIES is working with local governments to build
systems to check whether or not the generation, distribution, and use
of recovered resources, are suitable at the local level. This is done
by integrating information on local industries, waste management and recycling.
Fourth, research is needed to verify the safety of recycled items. NIES is developing and standardizing testing techniques to verify the safety of materials that have been recycled, so that when they are used the substances they contain do not cause any negative impacts on the environment or humans.
Resource recovery from waste, appropriate waste
treatment, disposal technologies and systems
In order to promote resource recovery and the use of waste
in the form of renewable resources such as heat utilization, as well as
to promote waste treatment with the smallest possible environmental impact,
it is essential to properly evaluate and to significantly improve the
technologies and systems relating to recycling and treatment/disposal.
To achieve this, NIES is developing comprehensive evaluation techniques for the selection of resource recovery and waste treatment systems that are suitable for sustainable material cycles, using indicators such as costs and emissions of hazardous substances and carbon dioxide. Another issue is the current difficulty of securing new landfill sites. NIES will work to develop technologies that can extend the operational lives of landfill sites by maximizing their remaining capacity, while properly diagnosing the stabilization of waste that has been landfilled. In addition, to deal with organic matter such as kitchen waste, we will conduct research into resource recovery systems that use new technologies such as those that create lactic acid, while striving for balance between supply and demand of recovered materials in the context of local agriculture.
Comprehensive risk management approaches for
recycling and waste treatment
For sustainable material cycles, it is important to avoid exposure
to danger from recycled products and waste that may contain hazardous
substances such as PCBs and dioxins. NIES is developing methods such as
chemical analysis and bioassays to quickly determine whether or not they
contain any hazardous substances. For chemical analysis, a great number
of substances can be analyzed using a new method of mass spectrometry.
If this is combined with the use of bioassays, a relatively comprehensive
and rapid analysis system is possible. In the event hazardous substances
is found in a product or material, we are also working to develop methods
to efficiently decompose the substances. In addition, we will study how
hazardous substances enter into circulation in material flows and whether
it is possible for them to pollute the environment, and research methods
to prevent hazards. Besides this, as a unique experiment, we will work
to develop satellite-based monitoring systems to prevent pollution from
illegal dumping.
Developing systems to deal with liquid waste-through
resource recycling and lower environmental impact
Household effluent (household waste water and human waste)
is treated today using urban public sewerage systems, septic tanks, and
rural sewage treatment facilities. This effluent is a major issue, accounting
for more than half of the pollution load in public water supplies in Japan.
Household effluent containing nitrogen and phosphorus is one of the causes
of eutrophication. For this reason, to achieve the environmental restoration
of inland seas, enclosed harbors and lakes, it is important to enhance
the basic foundations of technologies to remove and recover nitrogen and
phosphorus.
The need for such technologies is enormous not only in Japan but also in developing countries. For this reason, we are conducting research with developing countries in mind, using our bio- and eco-engineering research facilities. Our research makes use of physical chemistry, recognizing the limitations of ecological engineering and biological treatment, and includes the use of septic tanks and advanced treatments to remove nitrogen and phosphorus, as well as components of ecosystems such as aquatic plants and soil. Our research will develop technologies for low environmental impact and resource recycling, as well as assessments for the proper application of these technologies.
Integrated management techniques for risks from hazardous substances
contained in recycled resources and waste
