Product flow analysis of various consumer durables in Japan

We conducted a product flow analysis (PFA) for 94 consumer durables in Japan to obtain a complete picture of the domestic flow. Data on domestic shipment, average weight and average lifespan of each product was surveyed and estimated based on statistics and product catalogues of manufacturers. Then, the amount of domestic shipment and waste from households and enterprises was estimated as inflow and outflow of the system. This is the first report on the complete picture of domestic product flow of consumer durables in Japan. From the results, the target items of Japan's recycling laws are considered reasonable from the viewpoint of landfill waste reduction because the total waste weight of the nine target items accounts for 68% of the total of 94 items. The number of waste products was relatively large for items such as cellular phones, VCRs and notebook PCs, which contain numerous hazardous and/or valuable substances, although their waste weight was small. The waste product collection ratio for the nine target items remains at 2–56% on a weight basis (4–59% on a number basis) due to the fact that some waste products are taken to industrial waste treatment facilities and exported. In addition, in the post-consumer stage, the flow has not yet been identified for 46–68% of the waste products of the 94 items in weight (82–86% in number). These products might be treated as municipal or industrial waste, exported, or illegally dumped and their flow should be clarified through further research.