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Life Cycle
The Japanese approach to the issue is different from other countries. Whereas Western
companies look at the issue as a three-step process—pay a fee, get old materials hauled
away, and dispose of them along environmental regulations—the Japanese see the issue in
another way.
The Japanese look at the product’s end of life as another stage in the product’s life cycle.
Japan’s own WEEE laws took effect in 2001, and the taking back, dismantling, and reuse of
materials has become an integral part of the supply chain to create new products. For
instance, glass from old televisions is reused in new televisions. Plastic is also reused. This
helps Japanese companies meet reuse standards.

NOTE To help curb e-waste, Sony has even developed a vegetable-based plastic that breaks down
faster than other plastics.

Waste Management
Japan’s version of the WEEE Directive came in 1998 with the Japanese Home Electronics
Recycling Law. In it, manufacturers were warned to prepare for collection and recycling by
2001. Many manufacturers decided to pool their resources with the Japanese government to
open a pilot recycling project while the WEEE legislation was still being tweaked.
The pilot plant was an opportunity to gather important information on cost, personnel,
and how to meet reuse targets. This, in turn, helped shape the legislation. By the time the
legislation was passed, companies were already prepared.
Japanese electronic waste goes, mainly, to two large, centralized recycling companies,
each operated by a consortium of electronics manufacturers. Companies don’t involve third
parties, but send them to these operations instead. This helps save money, because the
middleman has been eliminated from the equation.

China
Although China takes its lumps for being a destination of much of the world’s e-waste, the
nation is working to get e-waste legislation in place.
The Chinese regulation is normally referred to as China RoHS. Though it is similar to
the European Union’s RoHS, it does take a different approach. The EU’s RoHS lists specific
categories of products. Specific products are automatically included in those categories
unless specifically excluded. China RoHS, however, contains a list of included products.
That list is called the Catalog.
Products
There is, naturally, overlap between the two directives. But many product types that are not
within the scope of EU RoHS are within the scope of China RoHS. China RoHS includes the
following:
• Automotive electronics
• Radar equipment
• Medical devices