Roger OngJapan’s 2026 policy calendar is planning tighter controls on waste in terms of information, while providing stronger incentives and obligations for circular design and recycling. With multiple commitments coming from various cities, like Yokohama’s Asian Circular Cities Declaration, Japan continues the push for economic and social betterment.
Hazardous chemical information added to industrial waste contracts
Under the Act on Waste Management and Public Cleaning, businesses handling PRTR “Class I Designated Chemical Substances” will need to include the chemical names and other specified information in industrial waste treatment consignment contracts when outsourcing disposal from the start of this year.
The Environment Ministry frames sees as a measure to prevent accidents and mismanagement by closing information gaps between waste generators and processors. Japan’s waste chain relies heavily on outsourcing and contract documentation. Strengthening disclosure reduces downstream risks, especially where hazardous elements are not obvious from a waste category alone.
Plastic “design certification” begins for four product fields
By the end of this month, the Plastic Resource Circulation Act’s design-focused measures move closer to “operational reality” as manufacturers in selected categories begin applying for design certification based on their criteria for PET bottles, stationery, household cosmetics containers, and household detergent containers.
The aim is to push upstream changes that make products easier to recycle, reuse or reduce in the first place. Instead of focusing on downstream recycling, this shifts attention to the design stage.
Landfill discharge standards tighten for hexavalent chromium
Japan is updating technical standards for municipal and industrial landfill sites in response to earlier changes in environmental quality standards for chromium derivatives. Chromium contamination is a real danger, so aligning discharge controls with updated water quality standards is meant to reduce exposure risks via waterways and groundwater pathways.
Upgrading the Effective Utilisation of Resources framework
2026 will also see structural improvements for circular economy. METI’s outline of the amendments highlights four pillars on the Act on the Promotion of Effective Utilization of Resources:
- Mandatory recycled resource use for specified products, including plans and periodic reporting by larger manufacturers.
- Promotion of environmentally conscious design, including a recognition scheme for especially strong designs (such as easy disassembly and longer life).
- Accelerated recycling of materials needed for GX, with special provisions that can ease certain Waste Management Act requirements for approved high-target recovery schemes (while still requiring proper handling).
- Support for circular economy commerce, creating a new category for sharing and related models, alongside standards.
Nature Coexistence Sites expand in FY2026
Japan’s 30by30 effort includes a mechanism to certify areas where biodiversity is being conserved through private-sector or local initiatives. These are Nature Coexistence Sites that the Environment Ministry has three rounds prepared (with application deadlines at end of January 2026, end of May 2026, and end of September 2026.) In practice, satoyama woodlands, agricultural mosaics, and satoumi-style coastal stewardship areas can fit the programme’s logic if management plans and monitoring are credible.
