The History and Current Status of the Recycling Mine Park Plan - From 1995 to 2024

The History and Current Status of the Recycling Mine Park Plan - From 1995 to 2024
December 2024

The Start of the Plan in 1995 and Foundation Building
In 1995, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (now the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry) formulated the "Recycling Mine Park Plan" aimed at reusing abandoned mines. The plan proposed utilizing existing mining facilities and technologies for waste treatment and resource recycling. At the Mochikoshi Mine in Yugashima Town, Izu, Shizuoka Prefecture, Chugai Mining Co., Ltd. recovered silver from waste films and photographic waste liquids, producing about 100 kilograms of gold (99.999%) and 15 tons of silver (99.99%) per month. Additionally, the facility worked on recovering rare metals from electronic waste (E-waste) and shredder dust, contributing to local economic revitalization and job creation.

Expansion and Disaster Waste Management in the 2000s
In the 2000s, the plan was adopted at 36 mining facilities nationwide, with a combined capacity to process approximately 980 million tons of waste annually. Efforts to efficiently recover lithium, cobalt, and tantalum from electronic waste progressed. Furthermore, the enactment of the Basic Act on Establishing a Sound Material-Cycle Society in 2001 bolstered policies that promoted advancements in recycling technologies.

Deepening and Contributions During the Great East Japan Earthquake in the 2010s
During the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, abandoned mines such as the former Matsuo Mine in Iwate Prefecture and the former Hosokura Mine in Miyagi Prefecture were utilized as disaster waste treatment centers. These facilities efficiently recycled metals such as iron and aluminum from debris and metal waste, contributing to regional reconstruction. Additionally, the mining industry prepared facilities to recover lithium compounds and nickel, responding to the growing demand driven by the spread of electric vehicles (EVs).

Developments in the 2020s and Contributions to a Sustainable Society
In the 2020s, Chugai Mining strengthened its recycling operations at the Mochikoshi Mine in Izu City, Shizuoka Prefecture. The facility produces approximately 100 kilograms of gold and 15 tons of silver monthly from electronic waste, while also accelerating the recovery of rare metals such as lithium and cobalt. It has also played a vital role in accepting and treating disaster waste, contributing to environmental preservation and economic revitalization in the region.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism also formulated the "Construction Recycling Promotion Plan 2020," increasing the recycling rate of construction waste to 97%. These efforts are linked to the Recycling Mine Park Plan, further promoting the construction of a sustainable resource-recycling society.

Significance of the Plan and Future Prospects
The Recycling Mine Park Plan has been highly evaluated as a pioneering policy aimed at balancing environmental impact reduction and resource recycling. Efforts to reuse abandoned mines have yielded significant results in economic revitalization, stable supply of rare metals, and disaster waste management. Further development is expected in Japan and abroad in the coming years.