Message from the President

Shigemoto Kajihara President President,Shigemoto Kajihara The Japan Waste Research Foundation (JWRF) was established on August 1 1989, which is certificated by the Prime Minister as a public interest incorporated foundation with an objective of promoting the public interest in order to realize a recycle-based society in Japan and abroad.

The JWRF has been developing technologies and conducting research needed for proper waste management by gathering a wide range of knowledge and technologies among industries, government, academia and civil society. The outcomes of such activities were utilized for establishing various national guidelines for waste management. Thus, the JWRF has remarkably contributed for the progress in waste management in Japan.

In June 2000, the Basic Act for Establishing a Sound Material-Cycle Society was promulgated in Japan. This act was developed to respond to urgent needs for changing a society with mass production, mass consumption and mass disposal into an environmentally friendly and wise resource using society with a circular economy.

Such changes can be realized through efficient use of resources in all processes such as production, consumption and disposal. In order to contribute for the changes, the JWRF decided to start a new task to promote 3R (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) in 2011 and set up a body specifically working for promoting 3R activities within the foundation.

It has been recognized that environmental problems cannot be solved by simply controlling human activities in limited scope and/or controlling use of an individual harmful substance. Instead, it is needed to address all human activities in a broader scope, which is advocated by the so-called planetary boundary concept.
In this sense, creation of CO2 free society seeking wise use of energies and establishment of a circular economy society seeking the best use of resources are one of the most pressing challenges for the humankind not only in terms of environment but also in terms of a broader context, namely sustainability.

Recognizing these aspects, the JWRF will further strengthen its activities, which include:

Research and development on waste management and 3R activities,
Enhancing public awareness by disseminating information including our achievement,
Climate change mitigation and/or adaptation measures in waste management sector,
Disaster waste management at large-scale disasters,
Environmental conservation of offshore landfill sites, and
Support for global mobilization of Japan's waste management expertise.

We will improve our R&D abilities and/or services provided to the civil society by best use of the long standing our networks with various stakeholders including central governments such as Ministry of the Environment of Japan (MOEJ), local governments, universities, member companies/consultants and NPOs.

I would like to sincerely express my deep appreciation to all the partners who have supported our past activities over the last 30 years.

We still need to continue our efforts for realizing the SDGs. In this context, I appreciate continuous support and advice for our activities and expect to work together for a sustainable future.

February 2020
Shigemoto Kajihara
President,
Japan Waste Research Foundation