BY IZUMI OKUHARA

Everyday large amounts of household waste are disposed of, some of which are then recycled. Among them are things like cans and plastic bottles. Lately, 500 milliliter plastic bottles are common and these are convenient. However, certain fears come to my mind that plastic bottles may destroy our environment whenever I see them.

In Japan 6 billion plastic bottles are produced every year and a recycling movement for cans, bottles, and plastic bottles has started. In the course of this situation, the year 1997 witnessed great progress in ecology, which was the establishment of the law of vessel and packaging recycling. At present, however, I regret to say that the recovery rate is less than 20 percent of the total. Similarly, the quantity of collection of cans is small. To my surprise, about 70 percent of bottles used are disposable ones.

There are three main reasons why the personal recycling movement is not common. First, recycling is costly and therefore it doesn't work efficiently. Second, consumers have little interest in the recycling movement. Third, the system for recycling vessels and packages hasn't progressed yet. On the other hand, large amounts of industrial waste have been incinerated or reclaimed. This means that their recycling system has not yet been established. Thus, crucial to the matter in question is to change not only the present approach to the problem but also the consciousness or attitude of Japanese people.

Germany is one of the advanced nations in regard to the recycling movement, in which there are various laws about recycling based on which system of recycling is set.

In addition, the conspicuous difference in recycling between Japan and Germany is about the charges for garbage. That is, people must pay 1,200 yen for one trash bag in Germany, which encourages them to reduce their garbage. Moreover, companies are required by law to collect and recycle their products. A violation of this law would cause the suspension of sales of their products. At present, the so-called "Blue Angel" used as an ecology mark has been put on commodities, which serves not only as evidence of a company's ecology movement, but also as a symbol for people to discern goods.

It follows from this that the ecological laws of Germany are strict for both companies and people. It is true that although it is difficult for us to observe such laws, not doing so would make the environment around us worse. Now is the time for businesses and people to work in cooperation with one another to protect the environment. Recently, the importance of recycling has been taught to children since they are in kindergarten, which naturally leads to their feeling of protecting the environment when they grow up.

In Germany, the way of dumping garbage is very effective. First, there are trash cans for their own exclusive use: for paper, corrugated cardboard, respective colors of bottles, and clothing. Moreover, there is no special day for garbage collection in Germany. Instead, every street has trash cans, which are to be cleaned whenever they are filled up.

Why do the Germans take a positive attitude toward the recycling movement? The answer lies in the destruction of the environment in Germany. Air pollution was a serious problem at one time. Consequently, German people began thinking of recycling as being indispensable to solving the problem.

The environmental problem is a serious problem in Japan as well. Therefore, it is necessary for Japanese people to have a keen awareness of recycling. Companies, as a matter of course, should devise new ways of recycling plastic bottles and their collection at a small cost. And the nations of the world have the responsibility of making a cleaner environment by establishing the law of ecology, which urges people and companies to push the recycling movement forward. In conclusion, people must primarily protect the environment of Japan by themselves.