In Japan, a law to promote the recycling of clear plastic bottles (known as PET, or polyethylene terephthalate, bottles), glass bottles, and cans was enacted in April, 1997.

At the moment, nearly 70% of steel cans, 56% of glass bottles, and about 2% of PET bottles are recycled. To encourage the recycling of PET bottles, for example, the Tokyo metropolitan government started placing recycling boxes at over 1500 stores around Tokyo.

Photo provided by Noshiro Kids' Eco Club.