Even though the birth rate decreases, diaper usage increases due to the accelerating aging population.
There is a need for recycling due to high processing costs and incinerator damage.
Cardboard, fuel plastic, new diapers… Various uses
As the aging population in Japan accelerates and the use of disposable diapers increases, attempts to recycle discarded diapers are increasing, led by local governments and companies.
The Japan Times reported on the 2nd (local time) that diaper waste discharged from homes and senior citizen facilities in Japan increased from 2 million tons in 2015 to 2.2 million tons in 2020. The proportion of discarded diapers in total household waste also increased from 4.5% to 5.3%.
According to reports, the Japanese government is considering having more than 100 local governments participate in recycling waste diapers by 2030. Currently, there are about 40 local governments participating in waste diaper recycling in Japan.
The biggest reason to recycle discarded diapers is the high cost of waste disposal. The case of Hachioji City in Tokyo is a representative example. Hachioji City collects a disposal fee of 35 yen per kg of garbage. The cost of disposing of disposable diapers is not small, ranging from 40 to 90 yen per kilogram.
In addition, if discarded diapers are incinerated like regular trash, the incinerator will be damaged due to the high moisture content, which is also cited as a reason to recycle discarded diapers.
Sams, a recycling company in Matsudo City, Chiba Prefecture, east of Tokyo, collects diapers with human waste removed from five welfare and medical facilities and processes them into recyclable materials. This company uses a separator to remove the absorbent material from diapers and goes through a sterilization and bleaching process to make diapers from paper pulp or plastic. The resulting paper pulp is used again to produce cardboard, and the plastic is used to make solid fuel.
In addition, Shibushi City, Kagoshima Prefecture, the southernmost part of Japan, is conducting a ‘one-to-one recycling’ project that makes new diapers from paper pulp of discarded diapers in collaboration with sanitary products company Unicharm. We are considering sharing our recycling technology with other local governments.
However, a Tokyo city waste reduction manager said that for a diaper recycling project to take place in Tokyo, “financial support from the government or the city of Tokyo is needed.”
The management authorities currently have no budget plans for recycling waste diapers, but are reportedly considering supporting the cost of installing diaper collection boxes for local organizations.
The same phenomenon of increasing use of ‘adult diapers’ is also occurring in Korea. According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, imports of adult diapers in 2021 are 112,000 tons, an increase of 17% from the previous year, while imports of infant diapers are decreasing.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.