Mercury and mercury-containing waste management in Japan

Mercury used in products and industrial processes eventually enters the environment via the waste stream. Since the management of mercury waste should prioritize reducing the amount of mercury used in products and industrial processes, this paper first describes the trends in the demand for mercury. Recent mercury demand in Japan is small in comparison to the past and other countries, and is estimated to be 8 tons per year. To manage mercury and its waste stream, it is important to understand the material flow of mercury and the types and quantities of mercury waste. About 80 tons of mercury enter Japan annually, 52 tons are recovered, and 11–24 tons are disposed of in landfill sites. Since environmentally sound treatment and disposal of mercury waste are essential, we discuss the recycling of some mercury-add products and the current state of mercury waste and mercury disposal in Japan. The remaining issue that must be addressed in the management of mercury and mercury waste is its long-term storage or disposal.