The Waste Disposal and Public Cleansing Law was instituted as a result of the legal amendment of 2003, and enforced on December 1, 2003.
Approval by local public authorities used to be required for collection, transport and recycling of waste under the previous Waste Disposal and Public Cleansing Law, which hindered promotion of recycling in some cases.
The wide-area certification system enabled recycling activities beyond the borders of local public authorities. Waste fire extinguisher was added to the list of general waste subject to recycling under the wide-area certification system as of September 8, 2005.

Disposal of excreta, which is produced in larger quantities due to intensive cattle raising and purchasing of feedstock, is becoming a major issue. Such excreta now amounts to as much as approximately 90 million metric tons per annum nationwide. In October 2004, the Law on Promoting Proper Management and Use of Livestock Excreta was put into effect. However, while biogas power generation by way of methane fermentation of cattle excreta is well known, there is no established technology for utilization of such used excreta. The Morita Group is engaged jointly with Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine in a research program for establishing a new resource recycling system.