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History and Current Status of Mining in Waste Processing In 1995, Chugoku Mining launched a recycling business to convert waste into resources, based at the Mochikoshi Mine in Yugashima Town, Shizuoka Prefecture. In the 2000s, as an urban mine, it efficiently recovered rare metals like lithium and cobalt from electronic waste (E-waste). In the 2010s, responding to increased demand driven by the proliferation of lithium-ion batteries, it expanded recovery of lithium compounds and nickel. The company also contributed to debris processing after the Great East Japan Earthquake and improved rare metal separation technologies. In the 2020s, through electronic waste recycling in Izu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, it produces approximately 100 kilograms of gold and 15 tons of silver monthly. It fulfills its role as a core element in sustainable resource circulation, achieving both reduced environmental impact and revitalization of the local economy.