Japan will mandate the recycling of lithium battery equipment

According to a report by Japan's Asahi Shimbun website on August 12, the Japanese government decided on the 12th to impose mandatory recycling and reuse obligations on relevant manufacturing companies for three types of products: mobile power banks, mobile phones, and heated tobacco devices. The main reason is that the small lithium batteries built into these products are frequently mixed into regular garbage, leading to continuous fire incidents at waste treatment plants and other locations. These three types of products will be included in the legally designated "designated recycling products" category. The new regulations will be implemented in conjunction with the amendment to the "Act on Promoting the Effective Utilization of Resources" in April next year. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry announced this decision at a review meeting held that day. Manufacturers and importers of these three types of products will be required to recycle discarded devices and reuse them. For companies that do not comply, the authorities will issue written advisories or administrative orders; those who refuse to cooperate will face fines. Users will not be penalized but are required to properly dispose of discarded devices by taking them to home appliance stores or local government recycling bins. Japan is also considering adding handheld fans and other products to the designated category in the future. For products such as cordless vacuum cleaners and electric shavers, the government will require manufacturers to adopt easily removable battery designs to improve recycling rates. Experts point out that lithium batteries are extremely sensitive to high temperatures and impacts, making them prone to fires. Data from the Ministry of the Environment shows that in 2023, there have been over 22,000 incidents of smoke and fire caused by small lithium batteries in garbage transport vehicles and treatment plants