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As countries worldwide seek to reach net zero emissions within the coming decades, data center sustainability measures are becoming increasingly important as these facilities consume substantial amounts of electricity to support globally expanding digital infrastructure. Yet, local renewable energy production and waste heat utilization are still rarely used in data centers, even though recent high electricity prices have considerably increased the economic value of self-generation and energy efficiency investments. The benefits and cost-effectiveness of data center sustainability measures have also not yet been thoroughly researched in cold-climate regions, where the data center industry is currently growing rapidly. Thus, this paper assesses how solar photovoltaics (PV) and waste heat utilization can effectively be integrated into different cold climate data centers, with a case study analyzing data centers in Finland and northern Japan. The modelled results indicate that solar PV systems can cost-effectively be used to provide renewable electricity to data centers in both Finland and northern Japan, with electricity prices having the largest influence on economic performance. The use of larger external PV systems is shown to be cost-effective at the higher electricity prices seen in 2022, whereas smaller rooftop PV systems and grid electricity provide more economic benefits at 2019 price levels. Selling surplus PV electricity to the grid and using waste heat for district heating is also shown to be effective in data centers located in Finland, whereas battery storage and snow melting are better suited to utilize surplus PV electricity and data center waste heat in northern Japan. [Display omitted] • Solar photovoltaic systems can cost-effectively reduce data center emissions in cold climate countries. • Data center waste heat can provide value in district heating and snow melting applications. • The cost-effectiveness of data center sustainability measures is largely influenced by electricity prices. • The option to sell surplus electricity to the grid incentives larger solar photovoltaic investments in data centers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We assess the economic consequences of the China's import ban on waste plastics. • The ban decreased the economic surplus of Japan by up to 95 billion yen. • Japan's plastic waste recycling will increase the economic surplus. • Reducing the generation of plastic waste might shrink the plastic recycling market. Over the years, China has imported a significant quantity of plastic waste from the rest of the world. In December 2017, however, it implemented a ban on the import of plastic waste, used paper, and miscellaneous scrap goods. This study aims to provide new insight on the waste trade, with specific focus on the market for recyclable plastics. By employing an economic surplus analysis, we investigate the impact of China's import ban on the market for recyclable plastics in China and Japan. Obtained results suggest a significant change in economic surpluses; Japan and China's surpluses reduced by 58 billion yen and 1,304 billion yen at the maximum, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Knowledge spillovers have a positive impact on environmental innovation. • We investigated the waste recycling innovation in the USA, Japan and Europe. • Policymakers should carefully favor industrial relatedness. Since natural resources are finite, new policy instruments to sustain the most efficient processes of waste recycling are required in all countries. To this end, it is critical to explore all technology mechanisms underlying solid waste researchers and practitioners' behaviors. The study focuses on to demonstrate the importance of knowledge diffusion between the source and destination of environmental innovations. This way, policymakers can elaborate opportune strategies to improve the efficiency of innovation activities. By analyzing a sample of 240 large international firms from the USA, Japan, and Europe, this paper discusses the extent to which innovation inputs, research and development, and relative technological spillovers affect environmental innovation—that is measured by the number of waste recycle and land fertilizers patents. The novelty of the study comes from introducing a knowledge production function approach to analyze the role of technological knowledge spillovers on waste recycling and land fertilizers efficiency at the firm level. The technological relatedness between the firms is computed through technological proximity, based on the construction of technological vectors for each firm. The results reveal a significant positive impact of external spillovers on firms' environmental innovation levels. This finding is important particularly in terms of policy implications concerning industrial strategies; as in order to improve environmental innovation, incentives that favor industrial relatedness and establishing integration between firms are crucial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One proposed strategy to solve current environmental challenges is industrial and urban symbiosis (I/UrS); however, appropriate evaluation methods are needed so that the potential benefits of I/UrS can be quantified. Several evaluation methods have been applied separately to study I/UrS, but no integrated studies have been conducted by applying different methods in the same case study area. Therefore, this study aimed to establish a comprehensive framework to evaluate I/UrS by combining the material flow analysis (MFA), carbon footprint (CF) and emergy methods. First, we developed a unified database and step-by-step process to clarify the waste distribution and recycling processes in an industrial city. Then a baseline scenario and an I/UrS scenario were set up to define the baselines and effects of I/UrS and compare the results. Finally, the three methods were applied to identify physical features in the I/UrS system. The MFA-based results showed that the use of I/UrS led to a 6.4% reduction in the physical value of material use. The CF-based results indicated that reduction of waste and by-products results in a 13.8% reduction in CO 2 e emissions. The emergy-based results showed that, with the implementation of I/UrS, the value of the emergy sustainability index (excluding labor and services) improved greatly (a 49.2% emergy reduction) as compared with the baseline case (a 14.3% reduction). In addition, the effects of implementing I/UrS by waste and by-product exchanges for blast furnace slag, scrap steel, waste paper, and waste plastic were evaluated. Whereas the CF reductions of unit ton of blast furnace slag is relatively low, emergy reductions of that is comparatively high. If policymakers only consider CF results when addressing the issue of climate change, the effects on emergy will be underestimated in this case. We conclude that the main actors in this area release huge emissions, but they also have a high potential to reduce their environmental loads. In addition, with appropriate designs, waste paper and plastics recycling could be highly efficient. Finally, the integration of the three evaluation methods should contribute to creating a low carbon and more resource independent society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: To discuss measures to promote reuse in society, a holistic understanding of reuse businesses and markets is indispensable. This paper presents a simulation model for reuse businesses. To formulate the model, first, prerequisites for reuse businesses are outlined. The simulation model includes these prerequisites as its parameters, and its outcomes yield patterns of reuse markets. The paper presents the formulation of the model and simulation outcomes under four parameter settings. The correspondences between the simulation outcomes and case studies of reuse businesses in Japan are discussed to verify the propriety of the model. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper presents a new perspective on the reuse businesses of independent reuse business companies (IRBCs) in Japan. A majority of previous studies on reuse and remanufacturing have focused on the businesses of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). During the past twenty years, however, in Japan, IRBCs have grown rapidly, especially those that launched new types of secondhand shops. The author proposes that the reuse businesses of IRBCs can provide useful information for academics, OEMs, and policy makers. A key finding is the strategies developed by IRBCs to ensure the volume of used products collected and to stimulate demand for used products. This paper compares the features of IRBC reuse businesses with those of OEMs, and discussed the results and implications of an interview survey with select IRBCs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Improvement of recovery rates is crucial for the supply chain management of waste cooking oil-to-biofuel conversion. This paper constructs a dynamic game model between biofuel enterprises and recyclers to compare the recycling modes and recycling rate decisions of waste cooking oil-to-biofuel conversion in China and Japan. Results demonstrate that: (1) the recovery rate of Chinese mode with recyclers as price leader is not necessarily lower than that of Japanese mode theoretically, indicating that the collection-storage-transportation integrated mode in several cities led by Chinese government may not be the optimal choice. (2) The subsidies for recyclers have insignificant impact on recovery rate, while the subsidies for biofuel enterprises can significantly improve the recovery rate. (3) Decreasing difficulty coefficient and expanding the market size can greatly improve the recovery rate. Therefore, reforming the beneficiary of subsidies, improving the recycling infrastructure, implementing strict technical and administrative control and creative sales policy of biofuel finished products may benefit the recovery rate in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waste taxes, such as landfill and incineration taxes, have emerged as a popular option in developed countries to promote the 3Rs (reduce, reuse, and recycle). However, few studies have examined the effectiveness of waste taxes. In addition, quite a few studies have considered both dynamic relationships among dependent variables and unobserved individual heterogeneity among the jurisdictions. If dependent variables are persistent, omitted variables cause a bias, or common characteristics exist across the jurisdictions that have introduced waste taxes, the standard fixed effects model may lead to biased estimation results and misunderstood causal relationships. In addition, most existing studies have examined waste in terms of total amounts rather than by categories. Even if significant reductions in total waste amounts are not observed, some reduction within each category may, nevertheless, become evident. Therefore, this study analyzes the effects of industrial waste taxation on quantities of waste in landfill in Japan by applying the bias-corrected least-squares dummy variable (LSDVC) estimators; the general method of moments (difference GMM); and the system GMM. In addition, the study investigates effect differences attributable to industrial waste categories and taxation types. This paper shows that industrial waste taxes in Japan have minimal, significant effects on the reduction of final disposal amounts thus far, considering dynamic relationships and waste categories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Taking dioxin emissions from incineration and the recycling of home electric appliances in Japan as two case studies, this paper aims to clarify the impact of environmental policy on technological innovation. For our case studies, relevant Japanese patent data were gathered and analyzed for the period 1990–2008. To demonstrate that environmental regulations induce technology innovation, we conducted statistical analysis to compare the number of patents related to each regulation between the period under regulation and period outside the regulation. The results show that after the regulations were introduced, new technological developments occurred for most technological types and the total number of related patent applications was larger even when controlling for other exogenous and endogenous factors such as business cycles and expenditures in Research and Development (R&D). We finally argue that while a possible weakness in these types of direct regulations is the lack of incentives for further innovations, they can still induce innovation if they are flexible and with specific targets. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Although MOX fuel coming from reprocessed depleted uranium fuels has been used as a recycling strategy by countries like France and Japan it is not a common policy in the 30 countries that uses nuclear power, nowadays it seems to be a more direct alternative to reduce the depleted fuel interim storage. Previously, the spent fuel pools of Laguna Verde Nuclear Power plant were redesigned to host the total operating life depleted fuel under its original nominal power condition, however the plant has been up-rated to 120% of its original nominal power increasing the number of depleted fuel forecasted. This new situation makes necessary the analysis of alternatives, being one of them recycling. The current paper assesses the viability of using MOX fuel in the up-rated Power Plant; the design of the boiling water reactor MOX fuel addresses the two main constraints of its use: shutdown margin and reactor stability. Fuel design proposed sets the appropriate MOX enrichment and the maximum MOX fuel batch reload that does not imply any modification to the reactor control systems to avoid an extra economical cost due to its use. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Although, in the theory of industrial ecology, a recycling industry is essential in order to establish a closed loop material system, in practice, the contribution of that industry is still limited, and more studies are needed to enlarge its role. The objective of this paper is to quantitatively analyze factors that influence the performance of recycling projects in Japanese Eco-Towns. We develop two multi-regression models using questionnaire survey data from recycling facilities and cross-sectional data from 23 Eco-Towns to analyze the amount of waste treated by and the operating rate of recycling facilities. Dependent variables are introduced through a review of the literature on industrial symbiosis and the situation of Japanese Eco-Towns, focusing on three necessary features: recycling boundaries, government policy intervention, and local collaboration and partnership. The results of two simple regression models of recycling facilities in Eco-Towns offer several fruitful insights that aid in understanding the performance of recycling projects. First, recycling facilities’ geographical proximity to users of recycled products can contribute to high operating rates. Second, subsidies for constructing facilities do not improve recycling projects’ operating rates. Third, collaboration, rather than competition, among recycling facilities can improve their operating rates. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In Japan, a revised Food Recycling Law went into effect in 2007 to promote a “recycling loop” that requires food industries to purchase farm products that are grown using food waste-derived compost/animal feed. To realize and expand food recycling, it is necessary to evaluate how the recycling facilities work in the recycling loop. The purpose of this study is to assess the environmental and economic efficiency of the food recycling facilities that are involved in the recycling loop, which are also known as looped facilities. The global warming potential and running cost of five looped facilities were evaluated by LCA (life cycle assessment) and LCC (life cycle cost) approaches: machine integrated compost, windrow compost, liquid feed, dry feed, and bio-gasification. The LCA results showed low total GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions of −126 and −49kg-CO2/t-waste, respectively, for dry feed and bio-gasification facilities, due to a high substitution effect. The LCC study showed a low running cost for composting facilities of −15,648 and −18,955yen/t-waste, respectively, due to high revenue from the food waste collection. It was found that the mandatory reporting of food waste emitters to the government increased collection fees; however, the collection fee in animal feed facilities was relatively low because food waste was collected at a low price or nutritious food waste was purchased to produce quality feed. In the characterisation survey of various treatment methods, the composting facilities showed a relatively low environmental impact and a high economic efficiency. Animal feed facilities had a wide distribution of the total GHG emissions, depending on both the energy usage during the drying process and the substitution effect, which were related to the water content of the food waste and the number of recycled products. In comparison with incineration, the majority of the food recycling facilities showed low GHG emissions and economic effectiveness. This paper also reported on the effects of recycling loops by comparing looped and non-looped animal feed facilities, and confirmed that the looped facilities were economically effective, due to an increased amount of food waste collection. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The use of recycled gypsum, which is derived from gypsum waste plasterboard, for ground improvement has recently been initiated in Japan and is not widespread around the world. As such, it is essential to explore the effect of environmental conditions on the performance and durability of soil stabilized with recycled gypsum. This is especially important in cold and rainfall regions such as in Japan, due to the solubility of gypsum. This paper presents an integrated experimental study to investigate the effect of environmental factors, in terms of freeze–thaw and wet–dry cycles, on the durability of soil stabilized with recycled gypsum. For this purpose, four different contents of recycled gypsum ranging from 0 to 20% were used. Four different cement contents ranging from 0 to 5% were used as solidification agent to optimize the cement content which is adequate to prevent the solubility and improve the durability. To study the effect of environmental factors on the durability, cylindrical specimens of stabilized soil were compacted at maximum dry unit weight and cured for 7days under constant temperature and humidity. Subsequently, specimens were subjected to different numbers of freeze–thaw and wet–dry cycles. They were then tested for compressive strength, loss soil weight, and volume change. Results showed that compressive strength of stabilized specimens decreased while accumulated soil losses weight increased with the increase of both numbers of freeze–thaw and wet–dry cycles. Freeze–thaw cycles have a significant effect on the durability reduction of stabilized soil compared with the effect of wet–dry cycles. The durability of stabilized soil improved with the increase of both contents of recycled gypsum and cement. The 2.5% cement content is adequate to improve the durability of soil stabilized with recycled gypsum based on ground mechanical and economic functions. Both freeze–thaw and wet–dry cycles have insignificant effect on the volume change of soil stabilized with recycled gypsum. After using 2.5% of cement content, the strength of stabilized soil specimens increased slightly with the increase of wet–dry cycles; subsequent to that, the strength declined with increasing wet–dry cycles. Soil stabilized with only recycled gypsum and without any solidification agents, such as cement, is not durable against environmental conditions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Environmental problems have been considered to be serious in the construction industry. Waste management pressures are pressing very hard with alarming industrial warming signals. Among the different types of construction and demolition wastes, concrete is about 81 percent of the volume of construction and demolition waste in Australia. To minimize the concrete waste generated from construction activities, recycling of concrete waste is one of the best methods to improve the environment. However, situations of concrete recycling in different countries vary considerably. Japan is a leading country in recycling concrete waste, with 100 percent recycling of the wastes that are used for new structural applications. This paper investigates the current concrete recycling situations in Australian and Japanese construction industries. A questionnaire survey and structured interviews were conducted. In comparing the current concrete recycling situations between Australia and Japan, it should be noted that major difficulties found from Australian and Japanese construction industries are on different phases of the transition to recycling of construction wastes. Therefore, it is suggested that the Australian construction industry should be: i) developing a unified policy in concrete recycling; ii) providing financial governmental support; iii) developing clear technical specifications or standards on the use of recycled aggregate for structural applications. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: After decades of designing magnetic and inertial fusion power plants, it is timely to develop a new framework for managing the activated (and contaminated) materials that will be generated during plant operation and after decommissioning—a framework that takes into account the lessons learned from numerous international fusion and fission studies and the environmental, political, and present reality in the U.S., Europe, and Japan. This will clearly demonstrate that designers developing fusion facilities will be dealing with the back end of this type of energy production from the beginning of the conceptual design of power plants. It is becoming evident that future regulations for geological burial will be upgraded to assure tighter environmental controls. Along with the political difficulty of constructing new repositories worldwide, the current reality suggests reshaping all aspects of handling the continual stream of fusion active materials. Beginning in the mid 1980s and continuing to the present, numerous fusion designs examined replacing the disposal option with more environmentally attractive approaches, redirecting their attention to recycling and clearance while continuing the development of materials with low activation potential. There is a growing international effort in support of this new trend. In this paper, recent history is analyzed, a new fusion waste management scheme is covered, and possibilities for how its prospects can be improved are examined. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study uses the stochastic cost frontier models to investigate recycling cost efficiencies for 1,809 municipalities in Japan from 2011 to 2018. Our major findings are as follows. A U-shaped relationship exists between the waste management cost per ton and recycling rate. The current recycling rate in Japan is much higher than the per ton cost-minimizing recycling rate. The cost-minimizing recycling rate is 7.6%, in detail it is 6.9% for organized and 6.8% for non-organized municipalities. However, the actual mean recycling rate is 21.7%, and the policy target is 27.0%. By decreasing the cost inefficiency, the predicted waste management cost per ton can be reduced from 34,521 yen (approximately USD 336) to 32,849 yen (USD 385) for organized municipalities and from 39,612 yen (USD 320) to 37,422 yen (USD 364) for non-organized municipalities, even though the actual mean recycling rate is 21.7%. Furthermore, as recycling rates change from 21.7% to 6.9% and 6.8%, the costs would reduce to 28,198 yen and 31,624 yen for organized and non-organized municipalities, respectively. Cooperation among adjacent municipalities and the outsourcing of the waste collection function to private companies would reduce waste management costs per ton. The collection frequency of glass is a cost-inefficient factor, whereas that of paper is a cost-efficient one. For the robustness check, we divide the sample into small, medium, and large municipalities. The U-shaped relationship between the waste management cost per ton and recycling rate still holds for small and medium municipalities. • Recycling cost efficiencies for 1809 municipalities in Japan are examined. • The current recycling rate in Japan is found to be much higher than the cost-minimizing rate. • The cost-minimizing recycling rate is 7.6%. • Determinants of the recycling efficiency are analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sweden and Japan are environmental leaders in their regions; however, Sweden has shown much better performance in the development of a circular economy. This paper suggests that different environmental discourses between the two countries help explain this gap. An actor-discourse analysis was conducted, taking the case of curbside collection systems. Results show that in Sweden, producers have physical and financial responsibility for collection and recycling while municipalities are responsible for planning and providing information. Economic incentives are well considered, and easy waste sorting at home is a shared norm, fostering systematic improvement of curbside collection systems and drastically increasing recycling rates. In Japan, in contrast, producers address recycling, municipalities do collection, and consumers cover sorting. The necessity of promoting consumer awareness of recycling is broadly accepted, but systematic thinking has not been introduced; as a result, primitive curbside collection systems remain mainstream in Japan, and it is not easy to sort waste at home. Thus, Sweden has favored economic rationalism while Japan administrative rationalism and, the former has been more effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Japan has developed a variety of national strategies and plans related to biofuels which address four main policy objectives, including reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, energy security, rural development, and realisation of a recycle-based society. This paper reviews these national strategies and plans as well as associated implementing policies, and discusses the extent to which these objectives may be achieved. This paper found that the long-term potential of biofuels to contribute to GHG reduction goals will depend not only on the rates of technological development of the second generation biofuels but also on the development of other advanced vehicles. In the medium term, the potential contribution of biofuels to rural development and realising a recycle-based society could become significant depending on the progress of technology for both second generation biofuel production and the collection and transportation of their feedstocks. The potential contribution of biofuels to Japan’s energy security is constrained by the availability of imports and the potential of domestic production. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]