Revision of Ordinance of the Ministry of Waste Management Law (mercury-related)

Part of the Enforcement Ordinance on the Treatment and Cleaning of Waste and a part of the Enforcement Regulations of the Law have been revised as follows, and new treatment standards for mercury-containing product industrial waste and mercury-containing soot and dust have been added. For discharge companies, please take appropriate measures when outsourcing.

Products that fall under any of the following 1 to 3 become industrial waste will be newly industrial waste that uses mercury.

1. “In order on the manufacture of products that use mercury for new uses (external site) (2015 Cabinet Office, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, No. 1, item 1 of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
2. Mercury-containing products manufactured using 1. above as materials or parts (limited to those marked in the “Materials Parts” column in the table below) 。
3. In addition to 1.2 above, Mercury-containing products that are labeled for the use of mercury or its compounds.

When storing mercury-containing product industrial waste before transporting, in addition to general industrial waste storage standards such as preventing the scattering and outflow of waste, the following items must be observed as standards for mercury-containing product industrial waste.

• Indicate on the bulletin board of the storage location that it contains mercury-containing product industrial waste. (Example: Type of waste to store: glass waste (product industrial waste using mercury))
• Take necessary measures, such as setting up partitions, so that there is no risk of mixing with other things.

When collecting and transporting mercury-containing industrial waste, in addition to general industrial waste collection and transportation standards such as preventing the scattering and outflow of waste, the following items must be observed as standards for mercury-containing industrial waste.

• Take necessary measures to ensure that they are not crushed.
• Take necessary measures, such as providing partitions so that they may not be mixed with other things.

When outsourcing, entrust it to a disposal company that has a license for mercury-containing product industrial waste, and state in the outsourcing contract that the industrial waste to be entrusted includes mercury-containing product industrial waste. Must be done.

• When issuing the manifest, please indicate that mercury-containing product industrial waste is included in the column of type of industrial waste and the quantity.
• When disposing of mercury-containing product industrial waste that has become industrial waste (limited to those with a circle in the “collection column” in the table above), collect mercury in advance. is needed.
• Mercury-containing industrial waste is excluded from the scope of stable industrial waste.

Industrial waste containing mercury (excluding specially controlled industrial waste) that exceeds the following standards will be newly mercury-containing dust.

1. For dust, cinders, sludge, or ore, mercury (including mercury contained in mercury compounds) containing more than 15 mg per kilogram of dust, cinders, sludge or ore.
2. For waste acid or waste alkali, mercury (including mercury contained in mercury compounds) containing more than 15 mg per liter of waste acid or waste alkali.

When storing mercury-containing dust before transporting mercury-containing dust, etc., in addition to general industrial waste storage standards such as preventing the scattering and outflow of waste, the following items shall be observed as standards for mercury-containing soot and dust. Must.
・Indicate on the bulletin board of the storage location that it contains mercury-containing dust, etc.
(Example: Type of waste to store: sludge (mercury-containing dust, etc.))

When collecting and transporting mercury-containing dust, etc., it is necessary to follow the treatment standards related to the collection and transportation of general industrial waste, such as preventing the scattering and outflow of waste. In addition, it is desirable to take measures to prevent volatile mercury from leaking (put it in a container with a lid, pack it twice, cover it with a sheet, etc.) and take necessary measures to prevent it from being exposed to high temperatures. .

When outsourcing, it is necessary to outsource to a processing company that has a license for mercury-containing soot and dust, etc., and to state in the outsourcing contract that the outsourced industrial waste contains mercury-containing soot. there is.

• When issuing the manifest, please indicate that mercury-containing dust is included in the column of type of industrial waste and the quantity.
• When disposing of mercury-containing dust, etc. that contains mercury (including mercury contained in mercury compounds) of 1,000 mg / kg (1,000 mg / L for waste acid or waste alkali) or more, mercury must be collected in advance. It is necessary to collect it.

The following 8 to 17 have been newly added for specific facilities related to waste mercury or waste mercury compounds (excluding waste mercury or waste mercury compounds enclosed in mercury-containing products that have become industrial waste).

1. Facilities that collect mercury from mercury or its compounds, or mercury-containing product waste.
2. Facilities to be used for the manufacture of products using mercury
3. Facilities equipped with lighthouse rotation equipment
4. Facilities that have measuring equipment using mercury (excluding products using mercury)
5. Test and research institutes of national or local governments
6. University and its affiliated research institutes
7. Research Institutes that conduct academic research or test research related to product manufacturing or technology improvement, invention or invention
8. High schools, technical colleges, vocational schools, various schools, staff training facilities or vocational training facilities that provide specialized education, including departments related to agriculture, fisheries or industry.
9. Public health centers
10. Quarantine Station
11. Animal Quarantine Station
12. Plant Protection Station
13. Livestock Health Center
14. Facilities belonging to the inspection business
15. Facilities belonging to the product inspection business
16. Facilities belonging to the clinical testing industry
17. Criminal forensification facilities

The following items have been added as disposal standards for waste mercury.

・When landfilling waste mercury, etc., it is necessary to sulfize and solidify in advance.

• Disposal of specially controlled industrial waste containing mercury (including mercury contained in mercury compounds) containing 1,000 mg / kg (1,000 mg / L for waste acid or waste alkali) or more Must collect mercury in advance.
• In accordance with this revision, the Company has decided to revise the plan.Guidelines for Disposal of Industrial Waste in Yokohama City"and"Industrial waste disposed of by Yokohama CityHas been revised.

(Reference link)
・Ministerial ordinance (PDF) (external site) that partially revises the Enforcement Regulations on Waste Disposal and Public Cleansing

・About promulgation (mercury-related) such as ministerial ordinances that partially revise the law enforcement regulations on waste disposal and cleaning [press release materials] (outside site)

・Revision of the Waste Management Law (industrial waste including waste mercury, etc.)