Japan recyclers mine toxic e-waste
Seeking to turn an environmental problem into an economic
opportunity, high-tech companies in resource-poor Japan are mining
mountains of toxic e-waste for precious materials. One model project,
the sprawling Panasonic Eco Technology Centre, sits in lush rice fields
an hour's drive outside of Osaka city.
Inside, workers and humming machines disassemble flat-panel
televisions, refrigerators and air conditioners, sorting their metal and
plastic components into boxes for recycling.
About 90 percent of dismantled parts are reused in one way or
another, said, a manager at the plant Yutaka Maehara.
Among the most precious parts are metals such as copper that are
becoming more expensive on the world market, while the plant also
isolates toxic components such as heavy metals and dangerous gases.
The plant aims to leave a minimal environmental footprint and to be a
good neighbour in its quaint rural setting.
"In the beginning residents here had some concerns," said Panasonic
spokeswoman Kyoko Ishii. "But as you see, we've been operating the plant
without polluting the water and the rice is growing without problems."
Japan has come a long way since the 1950s, 60s and 70s when it emerged
at breakneck speed as Asia's economic engine room, boosting living
standards but often at a devastating environmental cost.
The skies over Tokyo, Yokohama and other industrial centres then were
often choked with pollution, in the way those over parts of China are
today, while waterways darkened with industrial effluent. Since then
Japan has tightened many emission standards and other safeguards and
launched in 2001 a recycling system that separates paper, glass and
aluminium cans from household rubbish that can be incinerated.
Today people who want to dispose of electronic appliances have to pay
an average of 28 dollars for a washing machine, 32 dollars for a TV set
and 54 dollars for a fridge, according to the industry ministry.
The volume of garbage dumped in landfills every year has shrunk to
roughly one third of 1990 levels. Used mobile phone handsets and digital
cameras are now often called 'city mines' for the precious metals they
contain, such as gold, silver and copper.
The Government recently launched a campaign to encourage cellphone
users to return their old handsets to mobile phone companies for
recycling. AFP |