Scallop Shell Reuse Project in Hiradate Village, Aomori Prefecture - 2001-2020s

Scallop Shell Reuse Project in Hiradate Village, Aomori Prefecture - 2001-2020s

In response to the problem of approximately 5,000 tons of scallop shells being disposed of annually in Hiradate Village, Aomori Prefecture, a project to reuse scallop shells began in the early 2000s. The shells are crushed and mixed into asphalt to be used as road pavement material, reducing environmental impact while maintaining durability. in the 2020s, Hiradate Recycle Corporation, in cooperation with Obayashi Corporation and Shimizu Corporation, has gone as far as using shell pavement material for more than 100 km of road annually. Scallop shells are also used as soil conditioner for agriculture, with more than 2,000 tons used annually. This project is attracting attention both domestically and internationally as it aims to achieve both environmental protection and economic growth.