Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) will require businesses to collect and recycle mobile batteries, smartphones, and heated tobacco devices from April 2026. The move is aimed at reducing the growing number of fires caused by lithium-ion batteries, which have been reported in waste collection and processing facilities.
Legal framework and scope
The measure comes under a revised Act on the Promotion of Effective Utilization of Resources. From April 2026, products meeting certain production or import thresholds will be designated as “specified recyclable products.” Companies will then be obliged to collect these items through measures such as in-store or public collection boxes.
Thresholds and penalties
The law will apply to businesses handling over 1,000 mobile batteries, 10,000 smartphones, or 300,000 heated tobacco devices (Vaps) annually. Companies failing to meet obligations will face guidelines, warnings, and potentially fines. A public consultation is scheduled before the government ordinance is issued in October 2025.
Future expansion of rules
Currently, “sealed batteries” such as loose lithium-ion units are already subject to recall and recycling obligations. METI acknowledges the difficulty in removing integrated batteries from devices like smartphones and heated tobacco products. As a result, the ministry is considering adding other battery-integrated devices, such as portable fans and wireless earbuds, to the list in the future.
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