Operation of a plastics sorting system and recycling

Toshiba Environmental Solutions Corporation

The importance of promoting plastic resource circulation has been increasing due to the need to respond to the issues of marine plastic debris and climate change. In April 2022, the Plastic Resource Circulation Act came into effect, which promotes resource circulation throughout the lifecycles of products that use plastics. Then, in May 2024, the Act Concerning Sophistication of Recycling Business, etc. to Promote Resource Circulation was promulgated, which promotes the sophistication of recycling businesses and the development of the resource circulation industry.
Aiming to create a "true resource circulation society that does not overconsume resources and has a social system that enables useful things to be utilized repeatedly," we began operating a plastic sorting system in 2019 (Fig. 1), whereby we increased the recycling rate of waste home appliances to 87%. This system automatically sorts materials and then performs advanced sorting to a quality equivalent to transparent or single chromatic materials that are not subject to regulations (Fig. 2), making it possible to recycle mixed plastics that were previously disposed of. We will continue to contribute to promoting resource circulation.

• Management of Chemical Substances (Toshiba Tec Corporation)

Fig. 1 Plastic sorting system

Fig. 2 Examples of plastic waste derived from used electrical and electronic equipment or E-waste
(Source: Summary of the Criteria for distinguishing plastic wastes subject to control under the Japanese Basel Act from other wastes (PDF)(817KB), Ministry of the Environment)