Obihiro Matech's Challenge: Waste Glass Comes to Life Again" - June 2001

Obihiro Matech's Challenge: Waste Glass Comes to Life Again" - June 2001

Matech, located in Obihiro City, Hokkaido, is engaged in the recycling of waste glass generated from the dismantling of end-of-life vehicles. In the past, it was difficult to recycle the glass recovered from end-of-life vehicles, and much of it was disposed of in landfills. However, to solve this problem, the company has introduced a technology to crush waste glass and use it as a raw material for glass wool. This is an epoch-making example of end-of-life vehicle recycling in Hokkaido.

Matech's technology crushes glass into small pieces and separates it from other materials to create a raw material suitable for the glass wool manufacturing process. This enables the effective use of waste glass that had previously been disposed of in landfills. The company, which dismantles approximately 500 ELVs per month, generates approximately 15 tons of waste glass, which can be reused as a resource to reduce environmental impact and costs at the same time.

What is particularly noteworthy is that the company uses waste glass not simply as waste but as a raw material for new products. Generally, automotive window glass is mostly tempered or laminated glass, which is difficult to recycle. However, with the company's technology, foreign matter can be efficiently separated by crushing and processed into a form suitable for glass wool production. This technology has made it possible to supply companies that account for about 25% of the glass wool market in Hokkaido, and plans are underway to build a supply system capable of supplying 100 tons per month in the future.

Matech's efforts are not only expanding the possibilities for automobile recycling in Hokkaido, but are also becoming a new model case for the effective use of waste. It is attracting attention as a pioneering example of a company that aims to break away from conventional landfill disposal and contribute to the realization of a resource-recycling society as well as the development of recycling technology.

Related Information
- Japan Automobile Recycling Association Report (2000 edition)
Introduces issues and measures for glass recycling in end-of-life vehicle treatment, as well as actual examples from across the country.
- Glass Wool Recycling Technology Report (2001)
Report on Glass Wool Reuse Technology (2001)" details the applicability and quality control of recycled materials in the glass wool manufacturing process.
- Trends of Industrial Waste Recycling in Hokkaido (2000)
Analyzes regional trends in waste recycling and specific initiatives in Obihiro City.