Local governments handing over onerous PET bottles to exporters are increasing in number, and an industry executive said, "If things go on at this rate, the domestic recycling system will collapse."

Teijin Fibers Ltd., a textile producer, began to operate the world's first recycling plant to dispose of used bottles chemically and manufacture recycled bottles in April 2002 by investing about ¥10 billion. In fiscal 2004, the plant manufactured about 2 billion 500-milliliter bottles.

The Japan Times Weekly: Dec. 31, 2005
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