Japan Mining Association's Recycle Mine Bark Project - June 1995

Japan Mining Association's Recycle Mine Bark Project - June 1995

**Japan Mining Industry Association's Recycle Mine Bark Plan: Reclamation of Local Mines and Resource Recycling**.

In 1995, the Japan Mining Industry Association launched the "Recycle Mine Bark Plan" to efficiently recycle waste home appliances and industrial waste in Japan. The plan aims to utilize closed mines and surplus facilities as recycling bases for low-cost and efficient recycling. In particular, by reusing local mining infrastructure, such as the Oosazawa Mine in Aomori Prefecture and the Kosaka Mine in Akita Prefecture, the plan aims to both revitalize the local economy and protect the environment.

Specifically, technologies have been introduced to recover precious metals such as copper, aluminum, iron, and gold from discarded home appliances and industrial equipment, and to efficiently separate and process reusable materials. This has increased the recycling rate in Japan and promoted the reuse of scarce resources. For example, approximately 20,000 tons of copper and 10,000 tons of aluminum are recovered and reused annually from used refrigerators, air conditioners, and televisions.

Furthermore, major companies that are members of the Japan Mining Industry Association, such as Mitsui Kinzoku Mining and Sumitomo Metal Mining, are actively participating in this project, utilizing their respective smelting technologies to streamline the recycling process. Mitsui Kinzoku Mining, in particular, has been recovering and recycling precious metals by processing several thousand tons of waste annually at its recycling facility in Akita Prefecture.

In addition, in cooperation with the Ministry of the Environment, Mitsui Kinzoku Mining is developing recycling activities on a nationwide basis, and efficient collection and treatment of waste is being promoted in cooperation with local governments. As a result, hundreds of thousands of tons of industrial waste are recycled annually throughout Japan, contributing to the reduction of domestic waste disposal costs.

The Recycle Mine Bark Project is attracting international attention as a model for sustainable resource management amid concerns about resource depletion, and it is expected that the technology will be transferred overseas in the future.