What is the wide-area certification system? There are benefits, but the system is vague? Explained using the example of the "intermediate processing period"
Posted: May 2023, 6
What is the wide-area certification system?
Purpose and basic framework of the system
The wide-area certification system enables efficient waste management by allowing manufacturers and other manufacturing businesses to receive certification from the Minister of the Environment that is different from the usual industrial waste treatment business license in order to collect and recycle their waste products on a wide area (an area covering two or more prefectures).
The system is overseen by the Ministry of the Environment, and applications and operations are based on the "Guidelines for Application for Wide-Area Certification System."
The purpose of this system is to promote efficient recycling and ensure proper disposal of waste by having manufacturers and other entities collect and recycle waste from their own products on a wide scale.
It is specifically designed as a framework for rapid and effective waste collection and disposal across multiple regions.
In addition, there will be no need to obtain permission from each local government regarding industrial waste treatment business.
Scope of application of the wide-area certification system
The wide-area certification system applies when a business that manufactures, processes, or sells products collects and recycles their own used products on a wide-area basis.
This system applies to product manufacturers, importers, etc., and is subject to different licensing requirements than regular industrial waste disposal companies.
Certified businesses will have some of their compliance obligations under the Waste Management and Public Cleansing Act simplified, enabling them to improve the efficiency of waste disposal and reduce costs.
However, it is important to note that even the wide-area certification system requires the management of certain management records and contracts.
Benefits of obtaining wide-area certification for waste generators
The regional certification system has the following advantages:
(1) Manifest handling may be simplified
Under certain conditions, you may be exempt from the obligation to submit an industrial waste management ticket (manifest), which can reduce your administrative burden.
This allows companies to reduce the time and costs associated with document management and improve business efficiency.
It also reduces the risk of human error associated with issuing and managing manifests.
(2) Simplification of collection and transportation permits
In contrast to a normal industrial waste disposal business license, it may not be necessary to obtain a license for collection and transportation.
This will enable companies to avoid the cumbersome procedures involved in obtaining licenses and enable them to quickly start and operate their businesses.
Another major benefit is that it makes it easier to expand activities over a wide area, as there is no need to obtain permission for each region.
⑶ Promoting recycling
Efficient collection and processing will facilitate recycling.
The introduction of a wide-area certification system will enable centralized management of waste across multiple regions, optimizing logistics and improving recycling efficiency.
⑷ Cost reduction
By simplifying management costs and procedures, overall waste disposal costs can be reduced.
Specifically, by eliminating the need to manage contracts with multiple processing companies, it is possible to reduce labor costs and administrative costs.
Furthermore, by establishing efficient collection and transportation routes, logistics costs can be optimized.
Are there any specific provisions regarding the intermediate processing period?
Changes in intermediate processing brought about by the wide-area certification system
Although the wide-area certification system has advantages for business operators, the system is not clearly defined, and it is often difficult to make decisions. This time, as an example, I will explain ``Are there any specific regulations regarding the interim processing period?''
Normal industrial waste disposal
In normal industrial waste treatment, in accordance with the operation of the manifest, if the specified deadline for intermediate treatment is exceeded, the discharging business must grasp the treatment status of the outsourced industrial waste and take appropriate measures. You must report to the prefecture, etc. that there is no completion report from the collection/transportation company or disposal company even after the deadline.
The discharging business (including cases where the discharging business is an intermediate processing business) shall be notified from the registration date of the electronic manifest (in the case of a paper manifest, the "issue date"; the same shall apply hereinafter).Within 90 days (within 60 days in the case of specially controlled industrial waste)In addition, it is necessary to confirm in the manifest that the intermediate treatment of the outsourced industrial waste (including cases where it is directly disposed of without going through intermediate treatment) has been completed. In addition, if final disposal is carried out via intermediate processing, it is necessary to confirm that the final disposal has been completed within 180 days from the date of registration of the electronic manifest.
(Quoted from "Frequently Asked Questions" by the Japan Industrial Waste Treatment and Reconstruction Center, a public interest incorporated foundation)
If the waste disposal company does not receive a completion report from the collection/transportation company or the disposal company after the above-mentioned deadline, the discharging business shall grasp the processing status of the outsourced industrial waste, take appropriate measures, and notify them accordingly. must be reported to the prefecture, etc.
Is there a reporting obligation even under the wide-area certification system?
Will this operation also be applied to the wide-area certification system? When we checked with the Ministry of the Environment, they replied, ``Under the certification system, there is no obligation to issue a manifest, so there is no reporting obligation under the system.''
However, even if the treatment is related to wide-area treatment certification, theSimilar standards applyWe are required to be aware of this, comply with the law, and dispose of it appropriately. Therefore, the concept of the regulations is applied to the certification system, and if it is objectively determined that the period is deemed to be unavoidable for disposal or rehabilitation, administrative guidance may be issued. Caution is required.
Wide-area certified business operators are required to comply with waste treatment standards, etc., and maintain accounting standards in accordance with Article 15-XNUMX, Paragraph XNUMX of the Act, which is applied mutatis mutandis in Article XNUMX-XNUMX, Paragraph XNUMX of the Act and Article XNUMX-XNUMX-XNUMX, Paragraph XNUMX of the Act. Obligations to prepare, record, and preserve personal information, prohibition of lending names, improvement orders, etc. apply.
(Quoted from “Guidelines for applying for wide-area certification system (last revised September 33) PXNUMX”)
Please also contact us for applications for the wide-area certification system!
At Support Administrative Scriveners Corporation, we provide application support and consulting for the wide-area certification system to transport companies, construction companies, and other entities that manage industrial waste.
Applications for industrial waste disposal permits are complicated, and are one of the tasks that business operators have difficulty managing.
We provide legal services related to wide-area certification based on the know-how and track record that can only be accumulated by administrative scriveners who handle applications and negotiations with administrative authorities on a daily basis on behalf of business operators.
Our staff have experience applying for industrial waste disposal permits in prefectures across the country.
Please contact us by all means!
