The History and Current Status of Mining in Waste Management - From 1995 to 2024

The History and Current Status of Mining in Waste Management - From 1995 to 2024
December 2024

The Background and Role of Mining in 1995
In 1995, Chugai Mining, based in Mochikoshi Mine in Yugashima Town, Izu, Shizuoka Prefecture, expanded its business beyond traditional ore mining to utilize waste as a resource. The company employed techniques to recover silver from waste films and photographic waste liquids discharged from hospitals, producing 100 kilograms of high-purity gold (99.999%) and 15 tons of silver (99.99%) per month. In waste management, it advanced the introduction of detoxification processing and multi-purpose incinerators. Nationwide, 36 sites in the mining industry had an annual capacity to process 980 million tons of waste, addressing difficult waste types like shredder dust. These efforts aimed at environmental conservation and resource recycling. The Ministry of International Trade and Industry formulated the "Recycle Mine Park Plan" to support the recycling of abandoned mines.

Expansion and Technological Innovation in the 2000s
In the 2000s, the role of mining as urban mines gained prominence. Recycling technology advancements led to the recovery of rare metals like lithium, cobalt, and tantalum from electronic waste (E-waste), such as mobile phones and computers. Chugai Mining adopted efficient recovery technologies for these metals, expanding its recycling business in Mochikoshi Mine, Shizuoka Prefecture. The enforcement of the Basic Act on Establishing a Sound Material-Cycle Society in 2001 boosted recycling on a national scale, with the mining industry becoming a major player in industrial waste management.

Deepening and Diversification in the 2010s
In the 2010s, waste management by the mining industry progressed further. With the increase in electronic waste and the widespread use of lithium-ion batteries, the range of target metals diversified. At Mochikoshi Mine, Chugai Mining constructed a new recovery line for lithium and nickel, supplying several tons of lithium compounds per month. This was a significant measure to meet the rapid spread of electric vehicles (EVs).

The industry also played a crucial role in disaster waste management. Following the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, it handled debris and waste, separating and recycling metals. This initiative was highly regarded for effective waste utilization and regional reconstruction.

Moreover, corporate collaboration led to innovation, with enhanced cooperation between domestic and international waste management and recycling industries. New electrolytic and chemical extraction technologies improved efficiency, and in 2017, the Ministry of the Environment initiated the "Recycling Advancement Promotion Program," positioning the mining industry as its foundation.

Developments and Current Status in the 2020s
In the 2020s, Chugai Mining continued its operations at Mochikoshi Mine, advancing waste recycling further. In Izu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, the company utilized electronic waste recovery technologies, maintaining gold and silver production. It recovered 100 kilograms of gold and 15 tons of silver monthly and expanded resource recovery from medical waste. The mining industry also played a significant role in accepting and processing disaster waste.

Efforts to recycle rare metals and materials for lithium batteries have underpinned the growing demand driven by the proliferation of EVs.

The Social Role of Mining
From the 1990s to the 2020s, the mining industry has played an essential role in reducing environmental impacts and promoting resource recycling. Initiatives to reuse abandoned mines not only leveraged extensive facilities and beneficiation plants but also contributed to stable rare metal supplies and local job creation. This history demonstrates the transformation of the mining industry from mere ore extraction to a core of sustainable resource recycling, with continued contributions to environmental conservation and resource circulation expected in the future.