General overview of battery waste management in Japan

Used dry battery recycling in Japan began under the bilateral proposition issued by the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Although there is no problem even if used dry batteries are treated after being mixed with general house hold garbage, the Government takes care of establishing a system to transport and treat them. The project which was organized by the Ministry in 1986 seems to function fairly well for the time being, in spite of the criticism by the press at that time that the Ministry act was rather opportunistic. This paper outlines the brief history and the present status of the used dry battery collecting and treating system in Japan.