Information technology waste problems in Japan

摘要

The use of cellular phones in Japan is growing so fast that an estimated 70000 used cell phones are discarded each day (Tsuhan Seikatsu 1999). Most of them are not discarded because of physical breakage, making them unable to function; users are merely "done with them" and toss the appliances for new ones or later models. It is not only cell phones, however, as over the last few years the production and consumption of personal computers and other information technology (IT) products has skyrocketed, with new products frequently emerging. What is more, even though products are still useful, they are discarded because of social obsolescence. Discarded IT equipment amounts to about 140000 tons annually (2001 statistics). Here I focus mainly on computers and telecommunication equipment. Although in terms of quantity this seems small in comparison with 400 million tons of industrial waste and 50 million tons of municipal waste, qualitatively IT products are potential hazardous wastes because of the heavy metals and plastics they contain. These wastes cannot be disregarded in view of the need for environmental protection and resource management.