To improve the recycling of agricultural biomass residues in China, the present project surveyed the recycling patterns of agricultural waste biomass in Japan via literature review and field visits. The state of agricultural straw recycling in Tianjin suburb, China was also investigated as a case study. Biochar, as a new approach to the recycling of straw, was studied systematically to explain its possible effects on plant growth, soil microflora, and the fate of several pollutants. To disseminate the advanced strategies and technologies in biomass recycling, a monograph entitled “Biochar and Environment” will be published. As part of the project, a workshop was held and a website was constructed (http://www.shengwutan.org). In Japan there is a long history of good practice of reusing agricultural and other biomass residues, such as wood chips, to generate energy and fertilise soil. In Tianjin, the recycling of agricultural biomass residues has progressed significantly. However, the reuse rate still remains low and techniques are lagging. The study on biochar found that it could promote the growth of wheat and vegetables and immobilise heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Moreover, as biochar could influence the hydrolysis and biodegradation of pesticides with varying impacts dependent on its structure, it could be used for pesticide pollution control.