Article 1The purpose of this Act is to conserve the living environment and enhance public health by controlling the discharge of waste and carrying out waste management such as proper sorting, storage, collection, transport, recycling, disposal, etc. of waste, and to keep the living environment clean.

Article 2(1)The term "waste" as used in this Act means rubbish, bulky rubbish, burnt ash, sludge, excreta, waste oils, waste acids, waste alkalis, animal corpses, and other filth, or unnecessary objects, in solid or liquid form (excluding radioactive materials and objects contaminated by them).

(2)The term "municipal waste" as used in this Act means waste other than industrial waste.

(3)The term "specially controlled municipal waste" as used in this Act means municipal waste that is designated by Cabinet Order as having explosive, toxic, infectious, or other properties that are likely to cause damage to human health or the living environment.

(4)The term "industrial waste" as used in this Act means the following types of waste:

(5)The term "specially controlled industrial waste" as used in this Act means industrial waste that is designated by Cabinet Order as having explosive, toxic, infectious, or other properties that are likely to cause damage to human health or the living environment.

(6)The term "electronic data processing system" as used in this Act means an electronic data processing system that connects a computer (including an input/output device; the same applies hereinafter) used by an information processing center as prescribed in Article 13-2, paragraph (1) with an input/output device used by a contractor as prescribed in Article 12-3, paragraph (1), an entrusted transporter as prescribed in paragraph (3) of the Article, and an entrusted disposer as prescribed in paragraph (4) of the Article via a telecommunications line.

Article 2-2(1)Waste generated in Japan is to be properly managed in Japan to the greatest extent possible.

(2)The import of waste generated outside Japan must be controlled so that its import will not hinder the proper waste management in Japan.

Article 2-3(1)waste generated as a result of extraordinary disasters must be managed smoothly and promptly while preventing any interference with the maintenance of the living environment or public health in light of the fact that it is likely to include waste that causes serious damage to human health or the living environment.

(2)In light of the fact that the amount of waste generated as a result of extraordinary disasters will be extremely large, appropriate care must be given to minimize the amount of waste through sorting, recycling and utilizing, etc., in order to ensure the smooth and prompt management of waste so as to warrant the proper management of waste in the future.

Article 2-4Citizens must cooperate with the State and local governments with regard to the reduction of waste and other proper management of waste, by means of controlling the discharge of waste, recycling and utilizing waste through the use of recycled articles, separating before disposing waste, etc.

Article 3(1)A contractor must properly manage waste generated in the course of its business activities on its own responsibility.

(2)A contractor must personally endeavor to reduce the amount of waste generated in the course of its business activities by recycling and utilizing, etc., and at the same time, when manufacturing, processing, or marketing products, etc., must ensure that proper management will not be difficult when their products, containers, etc. become waste, by conducting risk assessments in advance regarding the difficulty of management when the products, containers, etc. become waste and developing products, containers, etc. that are not difficult to manage and dispose of, by providing information on how to properly manage waste associated with products, containers, etc., or by other means.

(3)In addition to what is provided for in the preceding two paragraphs, a contractor must cooperate with the State and local governments in carrying out their policies in connection with the reduction or any other measure of proper management of waste.

Article 4(1)Municipalities must, within their boundaries, endeavor to promote the voluntary activities of residents with regard to the reduction of municipal waste and also take necessary measures to sustain the proper management of municipal waste, and must also endeavor to effectively operate the service by improving the quality of their workforce, improving facilities and operation procedures, or by any other means when implementing services regarding the management of municipal waste.

(2)Prefectures must endeavor to provide municipalities with the necessary technical assistance to enable them to fulfill their obligations under the preceding paragraph, and must also endeavor to understand the status of industrial waste within the boundaries of the relevant prefecture and take necessary measures to ensure the proper management of industrial waste.

(3)The national government must collect, organize, and utilize information on waste, to promote technological development for waste management, and to take appropriate measures to ensure that nothing interferes with the proper management of waste in Japan, and must also endeavor to provide municipalities and prefectures with the necessary technical and financial assistance and coordination from a broad perspective to ensure that the obligations set forth in the preceding two paragraphs are fulfilled.

(4)In order to control the discharge of waste and ensure their proper management, the national, prefectural, and municipal governments must endeavor to raise the awareness of citizens and contractors related to these.

Article 4-2The national government, local governments, contractors, and other relevant parties must endeavor to appropriately share roles and collaborate with each other to ensure smooth, prompt, and proper management of waste when extraordinary disasters strike, pursuant to the principles of management prescribed in Article 2-3.

Article 5(1)A possessor of land or a building (when there is no possessor, the manager; the same applies hereinafter) must endeavor to maintain the cleanliness of the land or building that it possess or manage.

(2)If an owner or possessor of land finds waste that is deemed to have been improperly discarded by another person on the land that the owner or possessor owns, possesses, or manages, the owner or possessor must endeavor to promptly notify the prefectural governor or the mayor of the municipality to that effect.

(3)A possessor of a building must carry out a general cleaning in accordance with the plan specified by the mayor of the municipality in order to keep the entire interior of the building clean and sanitary.

(4)No person must pollute parks, open spaces for public use, camping grounds, ski slopes, beaches, roads, rivers, ports, or any other public places.

(5)The administrator of the place prescribed in the preceding paragraph must endeavor to maintain the cleanliness of the place under their management.

(6)Municipalities must install public toilets and public trash containers at locations deemed necessary, and maintain and manage them in a sanitary manner.

(7)A person who operates a vehicle, vessel, or aircraft equipped with lavatories must endeavor to manage the human waste related to the lavatories in a manner that does not hinder the maintenance of the living environment.

Article 5-2(1)The Minister of the Environment must establish basic policies (hereinafter referred to as "basic policies") for comprehensive and systematic promotion of the measures for reduction and proper management of waste by limiting the discharge, recycling, and utilizing etc. of them.

(2)The basic policies are to provide for the following matters:

(3)When the Minister of the Environment intends to formulate or revise the basic policies, the Minister must consult with the heads of the relevant administrative organs and hear the opinions of the prefectural governors in advance.

(4)When the Minister of the Environment has formulated or revised the basic policies, the Minister must make them public without delay.

Article 5-3(1)In order to contribute to the systematic implementation of waste management facilities improvement projects (meaning projects concerning the improvement of waste management facilities specified by Cabinet Order; hereinafter the same applies in this Article), the Minister of the Environment must prepare drafts of plans concerning waste management facilities improvement projects (hereinafter referred to as "waste management facilities improvement plans") every five years and seek a Cabinet decision, in line with the basic policies.

(2)A waste management facilities improvement plan is to set forth the objectives and outline of the implementation of the waste management facilities improvement project for the planning period.

(3)In specifying the objectives and outline of the implementation set forth in the preceding paragraph, due consideration must be given to the prioritization of investment and the improvement of efficiency in the waste management facilities improvement project in order to appropriately respond to the challenges inherent in the improvement of waste management facilities.

(4)When the Minister of the Environment intends to prepare a draft of a waste management facilities improvement plan, the Minister must consult with the heads of the relevant administrative organs in advance.

(5)When the cabinet decision set forth in paragraph (1) is made, the Minister of the Environment must make public the waste management facilities improvement plan without delay.

(6)The provisions of paragraph (3) through the preceding paragraph apply mutatis mutandis to cases where changes are made to a waste management facilities improvement plan.

Article 5-4In order to achieve the waste management facilities improvement plan, the national government is to take necessary measures for its implementation.

Article 5-5(1)In line with the basic policies, prefectures must establish plans for waste reduction and other proper waste management within their boundaries (hereinafter referred to as "waste management plan").

(2)A waste management plan is to specify the following matters with regard to proper waste management such as waste reduction, etc. within the boundaries of the prefecture, in accordance with the standards specified by Order of the Ministry of the Environment:

(3)When a prefecture intends to formulate or revise its waste management plan, it must hear in advance the opinions of the council and other organizations with a council system established pursuant to the provisions of Article 43 of the Basic Act on the Environment (Act No. 91 of 1993) as well as the opinions of the municipalities concerned.

(4)When a prefecture has formulated or revised a waste management plan, it must endeavor to publicize the plan without delay.

Article 5-6The national government and prefectures are to endeavor to take necessary measures to achieve waste management plans.

Article 5-7(1)Municipalities may establish a waste reduction promotion council so that it will deliberate on matters concerning the reduction, etc. of municipal waste within their boundaries.

(2)Matters necessary for the organization and operation of the waste reduction promotion council are to be prescribed by Prefectural Ordinance.

Article 5-8(1)Municipalities may commission a waste reduction promoter from among persons who have gained the public trust and are passionate and knowledgeable about the proper management of municipal waste.

(2)Waste reduction promoters cooperate with municipalities in their measures to reduce municipal waste and engage in other activities.

Article 15-5(1)The Minister of the Environment may, upon application, designate as a waste management center (hereinafter referred to as "center") a corporation (limited to those specified by Cabinet Order) that has been established for the purpose of helping to ensure the appropriate and cross-regional management of waste and that is invested or contributed by the national government or a local public entity, or any other corporation specified by Cabinet Order as being equivalent thereto, or an appointed contractor prescribed in Article 2, paragraph (5) of the Act on Promotion of Private Finance Initiative (Act No. 117 of 1999), which is recognized to be capable of properly and reliably performing the functions prescribed in the following Article.

(2)When the Minister of the Environment has designated a center pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the Minister must give public notice of the name, address, and location of the office of the center.

(3)When the center intends to change its name, address, or the location of its office, it must notify the Minister of the Environment to that effect in advance.

(4)The Minister of the Environment must give public notice of the matters related to the notification upon receiving a notification pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph.

Article 15-6The center is to conduct all or part of the following operations pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of the Environment:

Article 15-7(1)The center is to establish a fund for the operations listed in items (ii), (iv), and (v) of the preceding Article, and allocate the total amount of money contributed by the contractors, etc. on the condition that it is allocated to the expenses required for all or part of these services.

(2)With regard to the contributions to the fund prescribed in the preceding paragraph, the Minister of the Environment is to endeavor to request necessary cooperation from the contractors, etc. prescribed in the paragraph through the minister having jurisdiction over the contractors, etc.

Article 15-8(1)Pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of the Environment a center must prepare a business plan and an income and expenditure budget for each fiscal year and submit them to the Minister of the Environment. The same applies when the center intends to revise the operational rules.

(2)Pursuant to Order of the Ministry of the Environment the center must prepare a business report and an income and expenditure settlement document and submit them to the Minister of the Environment after the end of each fiscal year.

Article 15-9With regard to the following operations, the center must separate the accounting for each operation and prepare and keep accounts for each operation:

Article 15-10The center is to collect fees in an amount not less than the reasonable costs under efficient management regarding the establishment of the industrial waste management facilities and management of industrial waste.

Article 15-11Deleted

Article 15-12(1)Methods of management and disposition of property related to a final disposal site for industrial waste to be constructed by the center under entrustment from municipalities pursuant to the provisions of Article 15-6 (limited to those for water surface reclamation with municipal waste) and other matters necessary for the management and disposal of the property are specified by Cabinet Order.

(2)When the property set forth in the preceding paragraph has been disposed of within the period specified by Cabinet Order, if there remains any residual after deducting the amount of expenses specified by Cabinet Order from the disposal value, pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Order, the remaining surplus is distributed to the persons who have personally borne the expenses required for the construction or improvement work at the final disposal site and the persons who have provided subsidies. The same applies when the property is managed beyond the period and there remains any residual after deducting the amount of expenses specified by Cabinet Order from the appraised value of the property as of the expiration of the period.

Article 15-13(1)The Minister of the Environment may, to the extent necessary for ensuring the proper operation of the services listed in the items of Article 15-6, have the center make necessary reports on the status of the operations or assets, or have officials of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry enter the office of the center and inspect the status of the operations or books and documents or other articles.

(2)An official who enters and inspects pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph must carry a certificate of identification and present it to the persons concerned.

(3)The authority to conduct on-site inspections pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) must not be construed as having been granted for the purposes of criminal investigation.

Article 15-14To the extent necessary for the enforcement of the provisions of this Chapter, the Minister of the Environment may issue to the center orders necessary for the supervision of the operations listed in the items of Article 15-6.

Article 15-15(1)If the center falls under any of the following items, the Minister of the Environment may rescind the designation pursuant to Article 15-5, paragraph (1) (hereinafter referred to as "designation" in this Article):

(2)When the Minister of the Environment has rescinded a designation pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the Minister must give public notice to that effect.

Article 15-16Part of the affairs under the authority of the Minister of the Environment prescribed in this Chapter may be undertaken by prefectural governors, pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Order.

Article 15-17(1)A prefectural governor is to designate, as a designated area, an area of land where waste is located underground and which is specified by Cabinet Order as being likely to hinder the maintenance of the living environment arising from the waste due to the excavation of the land or any other change in the form or nature of the land.

(2)When a prefectural governor makes the designation set forth in the preceding paragraph, the governor must give public notice to that effect pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of the Environment.

(3)The designation set forth in paragraph (1) becomes effective upon the public notice referred to in the preceding paragraph.

(4)When a prefectural governor finds that the grounds for the designation set forth in paragraph (1) for all or part of the designated area have ceased to exist as a result of the removal, etc. of underground waste, the governor is to cancel the designation set forth in the paragraph for all or part of the designated area.

(5)The provisions of paragraphs (2) and (3) apply mutatis mutandis to the cancellation set forth in the preceding paragraph.

Article 15-18(1)A prefectural governor must prepare and store a registry of designated areas (hereinafter referred to as "designated area registry" in this Article).

(2)Matters to be stated in the designated area registry and other necessary matters concerning the preparation and storage thereof are specified by Order of the Ministry of the Environment.

(3)When a prefectural governor receives a request to inspect the designated area registry, the governor may not refuse the request without justifiable grounds.

Article 15-19(1)Pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of the Environment a person who intends to make changes to the form or nature of land in a designated area must notify the prefectural governor of the types of changes to the form or nature of the land, the location, the implementation method, the scheduled start date, and other matters specified by Order of the Ministry of the Environment no later than 30 days prior to the day on which the changes to the form or nature of land are to be commenced; provided, however, that this does not apply to the acts listed in the following items:

(2)A person who had already started making changes to the form or nature of land in a designated area at the time when the designated area was designated must notify the prefectural governor to that effect within 14 days from the date of designation, pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of the Environment.

(3)A person who has made a change to the form or nature of land in a designated area as a necessary emergency measure in response to an extraordinary disaster must notify the prefectural governor to that effect within 14 days from the date of the change to the form or nature of land, as provided for by Order of the Ministry of the Environment.

(4)Upon receipt of a notification made pursuant to paragraph (1), when a prefectural governor finds that the method of implementing the change to the form or nature of land to which the notification pertains fails to conform to the standards specified by Order of the Ministry of the Environment, the governor may order the person who has made the notification to change the plan concerning the method of implementing the change to the form or nature of land to which the notification pertains within 30 days from the date of receipt of the notification.

Article 16It is prohibited for any person to dump waste without due cause.

Article 16-2It is prohibited for any person to incinerate waste, except in the following cases:

Article 16-3It is prohibited for any person to store, collect, transport, or dispose of waste specified by Cabinet Order as having properties that are likely to cause serious damage to human health or the living environment (hereinafter referred to as "designated hazardous waste"), except by the following methods:

Article 17Excreta must not be used as a fertilizer unless the method conforms to the standards specified by Order of the Ministry of the Environment.

Article 17-2(1)A person who intends to conduct the storage or disposal of equipment (excluding waste) that has been retired and collected, and is specified by Cabinet Order as having a considerable value as raw material and as being likely to cause damage to human health or the living environment if improperly stored or disposed of (hereinafter referred to as "hazardous end-of-life equipment" in this Article and Article 30, item (vi)) (excluding persons specified by Order of the Ministry of the Environment as being capable of properly storing hazardous end-of-life equipment; referred to as "hazardous end-of-life equipment storage business operator" in the following paragraph) as a business, must notify the prefectural governor who has jurisdiction over the area where the person intends to conduct the business to that effect in advance, pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of the Environment. The same applies when the person intends to change the notified matters.

(2)A hazardous end-of-life equipment storage business operator must store or dispose of the hazardous end-of-life equipment in accordance with the standards for the storage and disposal of hazardous end-of-life equipment specified by Cabinet Order.

(3)The provisions of paragraph (1) of the following Article, paragraphs (1), (3) and (4) of Article 19, Article 19-3 (excluding items (i) and (iii)), and paragraph (1) (excluding items (ii) through (iv)) and paragraph (2) of Article 19-5 apply mutatis mutandis to persons engaged in the storage or disposal of hazardous end-of-life equipment as a business.

(4)When the minister intends to establish or amend an Order of the Ministry of the Environment that specifies the persons who are authorized to properly store the hazardous end-of-life equipment set forth in paragraph (1), the Minister of the Environment must consult in advance with the minister having jurisdiction over the equipment before it becomes hazardous end-of-life equipment.

(5)The minister who has jurisdiction over the equipment before it becomes hazardous end-of-life equipment may, when the minister finds it necessary, request the Minister of the Environment to establish or amend an Order of the Ministry of the Environment that specifies a person who is authorized to properly store hazardous end-of-life equipment set forth in paragraph (1).

(6)Beyond what is provided for in the preceding paragraphs, necessary matters concerning the storage or disposal of the hazardous end-of-life equipment are prescribed by Cabinet Order.

Article 18(1)A prefectural governor or a mayor of municipality may, to the extent necessary for the enforcement of this Act, request a contractor, a person commercially engaged in the collection, transport, or disposal of municipal waste, industrial waste, or objects suspected to be municipal waste or industrial waste, an establisher of a municipal waste management facility (including the manager in the case of a municipal waste management facility established for the purpose of disposing of municipal waste pursuant to the provisions of Article 6-2, paragraph (1)), an establisher of an industrial waste management facility, an information processing center, the owner or possessor of the land specified by Cabinet Order set forth in Article 15-17, paragraph (1), or a person who has made changes to the form or nature of the land in a designated area or any other concerned person with the person who has made the changes, to make necessary reports concerning the storage, collection, transport, or disposal of waste or objects suspected to be waste, the structure or maintenance and management of the municipal waste management facility or industrial waste management facility, the conditions of the land specified by Cabinet Order set forth in the paragraph, or changes to the form or nature of the land in a designated area.

(2)To the extent necessary for the enforcement of this Act the Minister of the Environment may request a person who has received the certification set forth in Article 9-8, paragraph (1) or Article 15-4-2, paragraph (1) (referred to as "certified recycling and utilizing business operator" in paragraph (2) of the following Article), a person who has received the certification set forth in Article 9-9, paragraph (1) or Article 15-4-3, paragraph (1) (referred to as "certified cross-regional management business operator" in paragraph (2) of the following Article), a person who has received the certification set forth in Article 9-10, paragraph (1) or Article 15-4-4, paragraph (1) (referred to as "certified detoxification business operator" in paragraph (2) of the following Article and Article 19-3), a person who intends to import or has imported foreign waste or materials suspected to be foreign waste, or a person who intends to export or has exported waste or materials suspected to be waste, to submit necessary reports concerning the collection, transport, or disposal related to the certification, the structure or maintenance of the facilities related to the certification, the import of foreign waste or material suspected to be foreign waste, or the export of waste or material suspected to be waste.

Article 19(1)To the extent necessary for the enforcement of this Act a prefectural governor or a mayor of municipality may have their officials enter the offices, workplaces, vehicles, vessels, or other locations of a contractor, a person commercially engaged in the collection, transport, or disposal of municipal waste, industrial waste, or materials suspected to be waste, and other persons concerned, as well as the land or buildings where municipal waste management facilities or industrial waste management facilities are located, or the land specified by Cabinet Order set forth in Article 15-17, paragraph (1), and inspect books and documents and other objects with regard to the storage, collection, transport, or disposal of waste or materials suspected to be waste, the structure or maintenance and management of the municipal waste management facility or industrial waste management facility, the conditions of the land specified by Cabinet Order set forth in the paragraph, or changes to the form or nature of the land in a designated area, or remove waste or materials suspected to be waste without compensation to the extent necessary for use in testing.

(2)The Minister of the Environment may, to the extent necessary for enforcing this Act, have the officials enter the offices, workplaces, vehicles, vessels, or any other locations of a certified recycling and utilizing business operator, certified cross-regional management business operator or a certified detoxification business operator, or land or buildings where a facility related to the certification set forth in Article 9-8, paragraph (1), Article 15-4-2, paragraph (1), Article 9-9, paragraph (1), Article 15-4-3, paragraph (1), Article 9-10, paragraph (1) or Article 15-4-4, paragraph (1) is located, or the offices, workplaces, or any other locations of a person who intends to import or has imported foreign waste or materials suspected to be foreign waste, or a person who intends to export or has exported waste or materials suspected to be waste, inspect books and documents and other materials with regard to the collection, transport, or disposal related to the certification, the structure or maintenance and management of facilities related to the certification, the import of foreign waste or materials suspected to be foreign waste or the export of waste or materials suspected to be waste outside Japan, or remove waste or materials suspected to be waste without compensation to the extent necessary for use in testing purposes.

(3)The official who enters and inspects pursuant to the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs must carry a certificate of identification and present it to the persons concerned.

(4)The authority to conduct on-site inspection pursuant to the provisions of paragraphs (1) and (2) must not be construed as having been granted for the purpose of criminal investigation.

Article 19-2In order to ensure the proper management of waste, the Minister of the Environment may request the ministers who have jurisdiction over businesses that manufacture, process, sell products, etc. to have persons engaged in businesses under their jurisdiction display the materials of products, containers, etc. manufactured, processed, sold, etc. or their treatment methods, and to take other necessary measures.

Article 19-3In the cases set forth in the following items, , in order to ensure the implementation of appropriate management of municipal waste or industrial waste, the persons prescribed respectively in those items may order the person who has carried out the storage, collection, transport, or disposal (limited to contractors, municipal waste collection and transport service contractor, municipal waste disposal service contractor, industrial waste collection and transport service contractor, industrial waste disposal service contractor, specially controlled industrial waste collection and transport service contractor, specially controlled industrial waste disposal service contractor, certified detoxification business operators (hereinafter referred to as " contractor, etc." in this Article), and persons who have imported foreign waste (excluding the contractor, etc.)) to change the method of storage, collection, transport or disposal of the waste or take other necessary measures by a set deadline:

Article 19-4(1)If the collection, transport, or disposal of municipal waste that does not conform to the municipal waste management standards (in the case of specially controlled municipal waste, the specially controlled municipal waste management standards ) has been conducted, and it is found that there is or is likely to be hindrance to the maintenance of the living environment, the mayor of the municipality (in the case set forth in item (iii) of the preceding Article, the Minister of the Environment; the same applies in Article 19-7), to the extent necessary, may order the person who has conducted the collection, transport, or disposal (excluding municipalities that have carried out the collection, transport, or disposal pursuant to the provisions of Article 6-2, paragraph (1), and including, when the collection, transport, or disposal has been carried out by entrustment in violation of the provisions of paragraph (6) or paragraph (7) of the Article or Article 7, paragraph (14), the person who made the entrustment; referred to as "disposer, etc." in paragraph (1) of the following Article and Article 19-7) to take necessary measures to eliminate hindrance or prevent it from occurring (hereinafter referred to as "measures including removing hindrance ") by a set deadline.

(2)When issuing the order pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, a written order stating the matters specified by Order of the Ministry of the Environment must be delivered.

Article 19-4-2(1)In the case prescribed in paragraph (1) of the preceding Article (limited to cases where the collection, transport, or disposal of municipal waste related to the certification set forth in Article 9-9, paragraph (1) has been conducted), if it is found that there is or is likely to be hindrance to the maintenance of the living environment and that it falls under all of the following items, the mayor of the municipality may order the person who has received the certification (excluding disposers, etc.; hereinafter referred to as "certified business operators") to take measures including removing hindrance by a set deadline. In this case, the measures including removing hindrance must be carried out within a reasonable scope in consideration of the properties and quantity of the municipal waste, the methods used for its collection, transport, or disposal, and other circumstances.

(2)The provisions of paragraph (2) of the preceding Article apply mutatis mutandis to an order pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph.

Article 19-5(1)If industrial waste management standards or industry waste storage standards that do not conform to the industrial waste management standards or the industrial waste storage standards (in the case of specially-controlled industrial waste, the specially-controlled industrial waste management standards or the specially-controlled industrial waste storage standards) has been stored, collected, transported, or disposed of, and it is found that there is or is likely to be hindrance to the maintenance of the living environment, the prefectural governor (the Minister of the Environment or prefectural governor in the case set forth in Article 19-3, item (iii) and in cases where the person who has carried out the storage, collection, transport, or disposal is a person who has imported the industrial waste (including a person who has carried out the collection, transport, or disposal under entrustment from the person); the same applies in the following Article and Article 19-8), to the extent necessary, may order the following persons (referred to as "disposer, etc." in the following Article and Article 19-8) to take measure that includes removing the hindrance by a set deadline:

(2)The provisions of Article 19-4, paragraph (2) apply mutatis mutandis to an order pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph.

Article 19-6(1)In the case prescribed in paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, when hindranceis caused or is likely to be caused to the maintenance of the living environment and the case is found to fall under all of the following items, the prefectural governor may order the contractor (if the industrial waste is intermediately treated industrial waste, the contractor and the intermediate management business operator for the series of management processes from generation of the industrial waste related to the industrial waste to its disposal, and if the collection, transport or disposal is collection, transport or disposal related to entrustment to a person who has obtained the certification set forth in Article 15-4-3, paragraph (1), the contractor related to the industrial waste and the person who has obtained the certification; excluding the disposer, etc.; hereinafter referred to as "generator, etc.") that has produced the industrial waste in the course of its business activities to take measures including removing hindrance by a set deadline. In this case, the measures including removing hindrance must be within a reasonable scope in consideration of the properties and quantity of the industrial waste, the methods used for its collection, transport, or disposal, and other circumstances.

(2)The provisions of Article 19-4, paragraph (2) apply mutatis mutandis to an order pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph.

Article 19-7(1)In the case prescribed in Article 19-4, paragraph (1), when hindrance to the maintenance of the living environment has occurred or is likely to occur and the case is found to fall under any of the following items, the mayor of the municipality may implement all or some of the measures including removing hindrance. In this case, when it is found to fall under item (ii), a public notice must be given in advance to the effect that the measures including removing hindrance should be taken within a reasonable period of time, and that if the measures including removing hindrance are not implemented during that period of time, the mayor of the municipality must personally implement the measures including removing hindrance and collect the expenses required for the measures.

(2)When the mayor of a municipality has taken all or some of the measures including removing hindrance set forth in the preceding paragraph (excluding the part related to item (iii)) pursuant to the provisions of the paragraph, the mayor may, pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of the Environment, have the disposer, etc. bear the expenses required for the measures including removing hindrance.

(3)when the mayor of a municipality has taken all or some of the measures including removing hindrance set forth in paragraph (1) (limited to the part related to item (iii)) pursuant to the provisions of the paragraph, the mayor may, pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of the Environment, have the certified business operator bear the expenses required for the measures including removing hindrance.

(4)If the mayor of a municipality has taken all or some of the measures including removing hindrance set forth in paragraph (1) (limited to the part related to item (iv)) pursuant to the provisions of the paragraph and the measure is found to fall under all of the items of Article 19-4-2, paragraph (1), pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of the Environment, the mayor may have the certified business operator bear all or part of the expenses required for the measures including removing hindrance. In this case, the amount of expenses to be borne by the certified business operator must be within a reasonable scope in consideration of the properties and quantity of the municipal waste, the methods used for its collection, transport, or disposal, and other circumstances.

(5)The provisions of Articles 5 and 6 of the Act on Substitute Execution by Administration (Act No. 43 of 1948) apply mutatis mutandis to the collection of the expenses to be borne pursuant to the provisions of the preceding three paragraphs.

(6)When all or some of the measures including removing hindrance set forth in paragraph (1) have been taken pursuant to the provisions of the paragraph, when the measures including removing hindrance are related to the maintenance and management of the final disposal site for specified municipal waste, the municipal mayor may, upon giving advance notice to the person prescribed in Article 8-5, paragraph (6) (hereinafter referred to as "establisher, etc." in this paragraph) and the agency related to the final disposal site for specified municipal waste, recover the reserve fund for maintenance and management related to the final disposal site for specified municipal waste on behalf of the establisher, etc. to the extent of the amount of the expenses required for the measures including removing hindrance.

Article 19-8(1)In the case prescribed in Article 19-5, paragraph (1), when hindrance to the maintenance of the living environment has occurred or is likely to occur and the case is found to fall under any of the following items, the prefectural governor may take all or some of the measures including removing hindrance, etc. In this case, when it is found to fall under item (ii), a public notice must be given in advance to the effect that the measures including removing hindrance should be taken within a reasonable period of time, and that if the measures including removing hindrance, etc. are not implemented during that period of time, the prefectural governor will personally implement the measures including removing hindrance, etc. and collect the expenses required for the measures

(2)When a prefectural governor has taken all or some of the measures including removing hindrance set forth in the preceding paragraph (excluding the part related to item (iii)) pursuant to the provisions of the paragraph, the governor may have the disposer, etc. bear the expenses required for the measures including removing hindrance pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of the Environment.

(3)When a prefectural governor has taken all or some of the measures including removing hindrance set forth in paragraph (1) (limited to the part related to item (iii)) pursuant to the provisions of the paragraph, pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of the Environment the governor may have the generators, etc. bear the expenses required for the measures including removing hindrance.

(4)If a prefectural governor has taken all or some of the measures including removing hindrance set forth in paragraph (1) (limited to the part related to item (iv)) pursuant to the provisions of the paragraph and the measure is found to fall under all of the items of Article 19-6, paragraph (1), pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of the Environment the governor may have the generators, etc. bear all or part of the expenses required for the measures including removing hindrance. In this case, the amount of expenses to be borne by the generators, etc. must be within a reasonable scope in consideration of the properties and quantity of the municipal waste, the methods used for its collection, transport, or disposal, and other circumstances.

(5)The provisions of Articles 5 and 6 of the Act on Substitute Execution by Administration apply mutatis mutandis to the collection of the expenses to be borne pursuant to the provisions of the preceding three paragraphs.

(6)If all or some of the measures including removing hindrance set forth in paragraph (1) have been taken pursuant to the provisions of the paragraph, when the measures including removing hindrance are related to the maintenance and management of the final disposal site for specified industrial waste, the prefectural governor may, upon giving advance notice to the person prescribed in Article 8-5, paragraph (6) as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 15-2-4 following the deemed replacement of terms related to the final disposal site for specified industrial waste (hereinafter referred to as "establisher, etc." in this paragraph) and the agency related to the final disposal site for specified municipal waste, recover the maintenance and management reserve fund related to the final disposal site for specified industrial waste on behalf of the establisher, etc. to the extent of the amount of the expenses required for the measures including removing hindrance.

Article 19-9When a prefectural governor intends to take measures including removing hindrance to the maintenance of the living environment pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, the governor may request the proper management promotion center to cooperate with the implementation of the measures including removing hindrance pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of the Environment.

Article 19-10(1)The provisions of Article 19-4 apply mutatis mutandis to cases where a person listed in the following items is found to store municipal waste that does not conform to the municipal waste management standards (in the case of specially controlled municipal waste, the specially controlled municipal waste management standards) (limited to the waste related to the matters prescribed in the respective items). In this case, in paragraph (1) of the Article, the phrase "in the case set forth in item (iii) of the preceding Article, the Minister of the Environment; the same applies in Article 19-7" is deemed to be replaced with "for a person who has obtained the certification set forth in Article 9-10, paragraph (1), the Minister of the Environment", and the phrase "necessary measures including removing hindrance or prevent its occurrence (hereinafter referred to as "measures including removing hindrance") by a set deadline" is deemed to be replaced with "storage of the municipal waste in accordance with the municipal waste management standards (in the case of specially controlled municipal waste, the specially controlled municipal waste management standards) and other necessary measures".

(2)The provisions of Article 19-5 apply mutatis mutandis to cases where a person listed in the following items is found to store industrial waste that does not conform to the industrial waste management standards (in the case of specially controlled industrial waste, the specially controlled industrial waste management standards) (limited to waste related to the matters prescribed in the respective items). In this case, in paragraph (1) of the Article, the phrase "the the Minister of the Environment or prefectural governors in the case set forth in Article 19-3, item (iii) and if the person who has carried out the storage, collection, transport, or disposal is a person who has imported the industrial waste (including a person who has carried out the collection, transport, or disposal under entrustment from such person); the same applies in the following Article and Article 19-8" is deemed to be replaced with "a person who has obtained the certification set forth in Article 15-4-4, paragraph (1), the Minister of the Environment", and the phrase "the measures including removing hindrance by a set deadline" is deemed to be replaced with "storage of the industrial waste in accordance with the industrial waste management standards (in the case of specially controlled industrial waste, the special controlled industrial waste management standards) and other necessary measures".

Article 19-11(1)If a change to the form or nature of land that does not conform to the standards specified by Order of the Ministry of the Environment prescribed in Article 15-19, paragraph (4) has been made in a designated area and it is found that there is or is likely to be hindrance to the maintenance of the living environment, the prefectural governor may, to the extent necessary, order the person who has made the change to the form or nature of the land to take measures for eliminating, etc. the hindrance by a set deadline.

(2)The provisions of Article 19-4, paragraph (2) apply mutatis mutandis to an order pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph.

Article 19-12(1)A prefectural governor who has received a notification pursuant to Article 9, paragraph (4) (including cases where applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 9-3, paragraph (11) and Article 15-2-6, paragraph (3)) must prepare and keep a ledger of the final disposal site related to the notification.

(2)Matters to be included in the ledger referred to in the preceding paragraph and other matters necessary for the preparation and storage of them are specified by Order of the Ministry of the Environment.

(3)When requested by any relevant person, a prefectural governor must allow the person to inspect the ledger referred to in paragraph (1) or a copy thereof.

Article 20A prefectural governor is to appoint an environmental health instructor from among officials who have qualifications specified by Order of the Ministry of the Environment, in order to have them perform the duties of conducting on-site instructions pursuant to the provisions of Article 19, paragraph (1) (including cases where applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 17-2, paragraph (3)) and Article 53, paragraph (2) of the Purification Tank Act, and providing guidance on waste management.

Article 20-2(1)A person who engages in the recycling of waste as a business may, obtain registration for the business site from the prefectural governor who has jurisdiction over the location of the business site, as provided for by Order of the Ministry of the Environment if the facilities used for the business and the capabilities of the applicant conform to the standards specified by Order of the Ministry of the Environment as sufficient for conducting the business properly and continuously.

(2)Matters necessary for the registration referred to in the preceding paragraph are prescribed by Cabinet Order.

(3)No person other than one who has obtained the registration set forth in paragraph (1) may use the name "registered waste recycling business operator".

(4)A municipality may request the person registered pursuant to paragraph (1) to provide necessary cooperation with the recycling of municipal waste in the municipality.

Article 21(1)An establisher of a municipal waste management facility (excluding human waste management facilities and final disposal sites for municipal waste prescribed by Cabinet Order) (the administrator in the case of a municipal waste management facility established by a municipality for the purpose of disposing of municipal waste pursuant to the provisions of Article 6-2 Paragraph (1)) or an establisher of an industrial waste management facility (excluding a final disposal site for industrial waste prescribed by Cabinet Order) must appoint a technical manager in order to take charge of technical work related to the maintenance and management of the municipal waste management facility or industrial waste management facility; provided, however, that this does not apply to municipal waste management facilities or industrial waste management facilities which they manage themselves as technical managers.

(2)A technical manager must supervise other employees who are engaged in the affairs of maintaining and managing the municipal waste management facilities or industrial waste management facilities under their management so that there will be no violation of the technical standards prescribed in Article 8-3, paragraph (1) or Article 15-2-3, paragraph (1) with regard to the municipal waste management facilities or industrial waste management facilities.

(3)The technical manager referred to in paragraph (1) must be a person who has the qualifications specified by Order of the Ministry of the Environment (in the case of a technical manager assigned to a municipal waste management facility established by a municipality for the purpose of disposing of municipal waste pursuant to the provisions of Article 6-2, paragraph (1), the qualifications specified by Municipal Ordinance in consideration of the standards specified by Order of the Ministry of the Environment).

Article 21-2(1)The establisher of a municipal waste management facility or an industrial waste management facility specified by Cabinet Order (hereinafter referred to as "specified management facility" in this paragraph) must immediately take emergency measures to eliminate or prevent the hindrance, and promptly notify the prefectural governor with an accident situation and an overview of the measures taken when any damage or other accident has occurred at a specified management facility and municipal waste or industrial waste to be managed at the specified management facility or polluted water or gas generated in the course of the management, which will cause or is likely to cause hindrance to the maintenance of the living environment, has been scattered, discharged, permeated underground, or dispersed.

(2)When a prefectural governor finds that the person prescribed in the preceding paragraph has not taken the emergency measures prescribed in the relevant paragraph, the governor may order the person to take the relevant emergency measures.

Article 21-3(1)With regard to the application of the provisions of this Act (excluding Article 3, paragraphs (2) and (3), Article 4, paragraph (4), Article 6-3, paragraphs (2) and (3), Article 13-12, Article 13-13, Article 13-15, and Article 15-7) to the management of waste generated by construction work when construction work for civil engineering and construction (including construction work to demolish a building or other structure in whole or in part; hereinafter referred to as "construction work") is carried out through multiple contracts, the contractor is deemed to be the person who manages the construction business (meaning the business of contracting for construction work (including businesses operated by having another person contract for the contracted construction work); the same applies hereinafter) (hereinafter referred to as "general contractor") for which the construction work has been contracted directly from the party ordering the relevant construction work (excluding construction work contracted from another party).

(2)The provisions of Article 12, paragraph (2), Article 12-2, paragraph (2), and Article 19-3 (including penal provisions related to the provisions of the Article) apply to the storage of industrial waste generated in the course of construction work by a person performing the construction work that has contracted for the whole or a part of the construction work from a person operating a construction work that has undertaken the relevant construction work from another party (hereinafter referred to as "subcontractor"), by deeming the subcontractor to be the contractor as well.

(3)With regard to the application of the provisions of Article 7, paragraph (1), Article 12, paragraph (1), Article 12-2, paragraph (1), Article 14, paragraph (1), Article 14-4, paragraph (1), and Article 19-3 (including penal provisions related to the provisions of the Article), when a subcontractor transports waste by themselves (limited to waste specified by Order of the Ministry of the Environment) generated in the course of the construction work pursuant to a written contract for the relevant construction work, the relevant subcontractor is deemed to be the contractor and the relevant waste presumably belongs to the relevant subcontractor, notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1).

(4)If a subcontractor entrusts the transport or disposal of waste generated in the course of construction work to another person (if the waste is industrial waste and the subcontractor is an industrial waste collection and transport service contractor or industrial waste disposal service contractor, or a specially controlled industrial waste collection and transport service contractor or specially controlled industrial waste disposal service contractor, excluding cases where the transport or disposal of the waste entrusted by the general contractor is entrusted to another person), with regard to the application of the provisions of Article 6-2, paragraphs (6) and (7), Article 12, paragraphs (5) through (7), Article 12-2, paragraphs (5) through (7), Article 12-3 and Article 12-5 (including penal provisions related to these provisions), the relevant subcontractor is deemed to be the contractor, and the relevant waste is deemed to be the waste of the relevant subcontractor, notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1).

Article 21-4The Minister of the Environment may give necessary instructions to prefectural governors concerning the following affairs when the Minister finds it urgently necessary in order to prevent the occurrence of hindrance to the maintenance of the living environment due to the improper management of industrial waste:

Article 22Pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Order the national government may provide municipalities with subsidies for part of the expenses required for the management of waste that has become particularly necessary as a result of a disaster or for other reasons.

Article 23In order to maintain the living environment and enhance public health, the national government is to endeavor to finance or arrange for the necessary funds for the establishment of municipal waste management facilities, industrial waste management facilities, and other waste management facilities.

Article 23-2In order to ensure the smooth implementation of the relevant affairs conducted by the prefectural governors pursuant to the provisions of this Act the national government is to endeavor to promote the exchange of information between the national government and the prefectures and among the prefectures themselves, dispatch officials, and take other necessary measures according to the status of the implementation of the affairs concerning industrial waste management.

Article 23-3(1)When a prefectural governor intends to grant the permission referred to in Article 14, paragraph (1) or paragraph (6); Article 14-4, paragraph (1) or paragraph (6); Article 15, paragraph (1); or Article 9-5, paragraph (1) as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 15-4 following the deemed replacement of terms; or the approval referred to in Article 9-6, paragraph (1) as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 15-4 following the deemed replacement of terms, the governor is to hear the opinions of the Superintendent General of the Metropolitan Police Department or the Chief of the Prefectural Police Headquarters with regard to the existence or non-existence of any of the grounds falling under Article 14, paragraph (5), item (ii), (b) through (f) (in the case of grounds falling under (c) through (e) of the item, limited to those related to (b) of the item. The same applies in the following paragraph and the following Article).

(2)When a prefectural governor intends to make a disposition pursuant to the provisions of Article 14-3-2, paragraph (1) (including cases where applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 14-6) or Article 15-3, paragraph (1), the governor may hear the opinion of the Superintendent General of the Metropolitan Police Department or the Chief of the Prefectural Police Headquarters with regard to the existence or non-existence of any of the grounds falling under Article 14-5, item (ii), (b) through (f).

Article 23-4When the Superintendent General of the Metropolitan Police Department or the Chief of the Prefectural Police Headquarters finds that there are reasonable grounds to suspect that an industrial waste collection and transport service contractor, an industrial waste disposal service contractor, a specially controlled industrial waste collection and transport service contractor, a specially controlled industrial waste disposal service contractor, or an establisher of an industrial waste management facility (hereinafter referred to as "industrial waste collection and transport service contractor, etc." in this Article) falls under Article 14, paragraph (5), item (ii), (b) through (f), and it is therefore necessary for the prefectural governor to take appropriate measures against the industrial waste collection and transport service contractor, etc., the Superintendent General of the Metropolitan Police Department or the Chief of the Prefectural Police Headquarters may state an opinion to that effect to the prefectural governor.

Article 23-5Beyond what is provided for in Article 23-3, a prefectural governor may make inquiries to or request cooperation from relevant administrative organs or relevant local governments with regard to the affairs based on the provisions of this Act.

Article 24A person who intends to obtain the confirmation set forth in Article 10, paragraph (1) (including cases where applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 15-4-7, paragraph (1)) or the permission set forth in Article 15-4-5, paragraph (1) must pay a fee specified by Cabinet Order in consideration of the actual costs.

Article 24-2(1)Part of the affairs that are under the authority of a prefectural governor pursuant to the provisions of this Act may be undertaken by the mayor of a city specified by Cabinet Order, pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Order.

(2)A person who is dissatisfied with the determination with respect to an application for the examination of a disposition made by the mayor of a city specified by Cabinet Order (limited to the statutory entrusted duties under item (i) as prescribed in Article 2, paragraph (9), item (i) of the Local Autonomy Act (hereinafter referred to as "statutory entrusted duties under item (i)")) set forth in the preceding paragraph pursuant to the provisions of the paragraph may file a request for re-examination with the Minister of the Environment.

(3)If the mayor of a city specified by Cabinet Order set forth in paragraph (1) has delegated, to an employee who is the mayor's subsidiary organ or the head of an administrative organ under the management of the mayor, the authority to make dispositions related to the statutory entrusted duties under item (i) from among the functions to be performed by the mayor pursuant to the provisions of the paragraph, when a determination with respect to a request for re-examination set forth in Article 255, paragraph (2) of the Local Autonomy Act has been made with regard to a disposition made by the employee to whom authority was delegated or the head of the administrative organ based on the delegation, a person who is dissatisfied with the determination may make a request for further examination to the Minister of the Environment pursuant to the provisions of Article 252-17-4, paragraphs (5) through (7) of the Act.

Article 24-3(1)The affairs under the authority of prefectural governors pursuant to the provisions of Article 18, paragraph (1) or Article 19, paragraph (1) (including cases where applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 17-2, paragraph (3)) are to be administered by the Minister of the Environment or the prefectural governors when the Minister of the Environment finds it particularly necessary for the maintenance of the living environment. In this case, the provisions of this Act that relate to prefectural governors (limited to the portions related to the relevant affairs) apply to the Minister of the Environment as provisions related to the Minister of the Environment.

(2)In the case referred to in the preceding paragraph, when the Minister of the Environment or prefectural governors carry out the relevant affairs, they are to do so in close mutual coordination.

Article 24-4The affairs to be performed by prefectures pursuant to Article 12, paragraphs (3) and (4), Article 12-2, paragraphs (3) and (4), Article 12-3, paragraph (7), Article 12-5, paragraph (9), Article 12-6, Article 12-7, paragraphs (1), (2), (3) (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to paragraph (8) of the Article), (7), (9), and (10), Article 14, paragraph (1), paragraph (5) (including cases where applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 14-2, paragraph (2)), paragraph (6), and paragraph (10) (including cases where applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 14-2, paragraph (2)), Article 14-2, paragraph (1), Article 7-2, paragraph (3) and paragraph (4) as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to paragraph (3) of the Article following the deemed replacement of terms, Article 14-3 (including cases where applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 14-6 following the deemed replacement of terms), Article 14-3-2, paragraph (1) (including cases where applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 14-6 following the deemed replacement of terms), Article 14-3-2, paragraph (2) (including cases where applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 14-6), Article 14-4, paragraph (1), paragraph (5) (including cases where applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 14-5, paragraph (2)), paragraph (6), and paragraph (10) (including cases where applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 14-5, paragraph (2)), Article 14-5, paragraph (1), Article 7-2, paragraphs (3) and (4) as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to paragraph (3) of the Article following the deemed replacement of terms, Article 15, paragraph (1), paragraphs (4) through (6) of the Article (including cases where applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 15-2-6, paragraph (2)), Article 15-2, paragraphs (1) through (3) (including cases where applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 15-2-6, paragraph (2)) and paragraph (5), Article 15-2-2, paragraph (1), Article 8-5, paragraph (4) as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 15-2-4 following the deemed replacement of terms, Article 15-2-6, paragraph (1), Article 9, paragraphs (3) through (6) as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 15-2-6, paragraph (3) following the deemed replacement of terms, Article 15-2-7, Article 15-3, Article 15-3-2, paragraph (2), Article 15-3-3, paragraphs (1) and (5), Article 9-5, paragraphs (1) and (2) as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 15-4 following the deemed replacement of terms, Article 9-6, Article 9-7, paragraph (2) as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 15-4, Article 17-2, paragraph (1), Article 18, paragraph (1) as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to paragraph (3) of the Article, Article 19, paragraph (1), Article 19-3 (excluding items (i) and (iii)), Article 19-5, paragraph (1) (excluding items (ii) through (iv)), Article 18, paragraph (1) (limited to the part related to industrial waste or industrial waste management facilities), Article 19, paragraph (1) (limited to the part related to industrial waste or industrial waste management facilities), Article 19-3 (limited to the part related to item (ii)), Article 19-5, paragraph (1), Article 19-4, paragraph (2) as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to paragraph (2) of the Article, Article 19-6, paragraph (1), Article 19-4, paragraph (2) as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to paragraph (2) of the Article, Article 19-5, paragraph (1) as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 19-10, paragraph (2) following the deemed replacement of terms, Article 21-2 (limited to the part related to industrial waste management facilities), Article 23-3, and Article 23-4 are to be the statutory entrusted functions under item (i).

Article 24-5The authority of the Minister of the Environment prescribed in this Act may be delegated to the Director of the Regional Environmental Office pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of the Environment.

Article 24-6When an order is enacted, changed, or repealed based on the provisions of this Act, transitional measures (including transitional measures concerning penal provisions) within the scope determined to be reasonably necessary in conjunction with its enactment, change or repeal may be established by the order.

Article 25(1)A person who falls under any of the following items is to be punished by imprisonment with work for not more than five years or a fine of not more than ten million yen, or both:

(2)Any attempt to commit the crimes set forth in items (xii), (xiv), and (xv) of the preceding paragraph is punished.

Article 26A person who falls under any of the following items is punished by imprisonment for not more than three years or a fine of not more than three million yen, or both:

Article 27A person who has made preparations for the purpose of committing the crime set forth in Article 25, paragraph (1), item (xii) is punished by imprisonment for not more than two years or a fine of not more than 2 million yen, or both.

Article 27-2A person who falls under any of the following items is punished by imprisonment for not more than 1 year or a fine of not more than 1 million yen:

Article 28A person who falls under any of the following items is to be punished by imprisonment with work for not more than 1 year or a fine of not more than 500,000 yen:

Article 29A person who falls under any of the following items is to be punished by imprisonment with work for not more than 6 months or a fine of not more than 500,000 yen:

Article 30A person who falls under any of the following items is punished by a fine of not more than 300,000 yen:

Article 31An officer or employee of the information processing center or a waste management center who falls under any of the following items is punished by a fine of not more than 300,000 yen:

Article 32(1)When a representative of a corporation or an agent, employee, or other worker of a corporation or individual has violated the provisions set forth in one of the following items in connection with the business of the corporation or individual, beyond the offender being subject to punishment, the corporation is subject to the fine prescribed in the relevant item and the individual is subject to the fine prescribed in the relevant Article:

(2)The period of prescription for a fine imposed on a corporation or individual pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph for a violation pursuant to Article 25 is the same as that for the offense referred to in that Article.

Article 33A person who falls under any of the following items is subject to punishment by a civil fine not exceeding 200,000 yen:

Article 34A person using the characters "registered waste recycling business operator" in its name in violation of the provisions of Article 20-2, paragraph (3) is subject to a civil fine of not more than 100,000 yen.