TBM cooperates with Yokosuka City to obtain ministerial certification under the "Plastic New Law"

- Commencement of batch collection and recycling of plastics at one of Japan's largest recycling plants -

TBM Co., Ltd., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, CEO: Nobuyoshi Yamasaki, hereinafter TBM) is a plastic recycling plan formulated with Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture, based on the Plastic material circulation Promotion Law (hereafter, the New Plastic Law). We are pleased to announce that we have obtained certification from the Minister of the Environment and the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry.

TBM is promoting the use of LIMEX, a new environmentally friendly material made primarily from limestone, and LIMEX products. At the same time, the company is also working to recycle used LIMEX and plastic products through its business activities: mechanical recycling used LIMEX products, selling and developing CirculeX, a material containing more than 50% recycled material materials, and providing MaaR, a material circulation material circulation service. TBM has also completed Yokosuka Plant, Japan's largest plastic recycling plant, and has collaborated with Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture, which has declared itself a "Zero Carbon City," to promote material circulation, including formulating a plastic recycling plan.

With this certification, plastic waste generated in Yokosuka City will now include not only plastic containers and packaging, which have previously been subject to separate collection, but also plastic products, which were previously collected as combustible waste and incinerated, all collected together and mechanical recycling into recycled pellets at TBM's Yokosuka Plant. The plant is equipped with technology to automatically sort the used LIMEX and plastic it collects using near-infrared light, and can also detect and separate plastics by material, such as polypropylene and polyethylene. With the aim of realizing Decarbonization society through material circulation, TBM will use this certification as an opportunity to deploy this pioneering material circulation model both domestically and internationally.

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Background

Since 1950, approximately 6.3 billion tons of plastic has been disposed of worldwide, of which approximately 79% is said to have landfilled or flowed into the natural environment ^*1. In Japan, about 7.1 million tons out of the total amount of about 8.22 million tons of waste plastics discharged in 2020 are effectively used, of which about 5.09 million tons are thermal recycling that uses the heat of combustion for power generation and hot water supply. (energy recovery), and combined with simple incineration, approximately 70% of all sorted and collected waste plastic is incinerated ^*2.

In light of the current situation where the recycling of plastics is not progressing, the new plastic law will be enforced in April 2022. Businesses that manufacture and sell products that use plastic are required to promote environmentally friendly design, streamline their use, and create systems for discharge, collection, and recycling of all plastic products called product plastics.

*1 Geyer, R., Jambeck, JR, & Law, KL (2017). Production, use, and fate of all plastics ever made *2 Current status of production, disposal, recycling, and disposal of plastic products in 2020 ( Japan Plastic Recycling Association)

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About the recycling plan

Under the new plastic law, if the competent minister approves a recycling plan that a municipality has prepared independently or jointly with a business operator, it is possible to omit intermediate processing such as sorting by the municipality and outsource it to a recycling business operator. was given. In order to recycle plastic products that are currently being incinerated, we applied for certification of a recycling plan on December 8, 2022, and formulated a recycling plan in cooperation with Yokosuka City. Collected plastics are sorted, washed and recycled as pellets at TBM's Yokosuka Plant.

・Certification date December 19, 2022
・Plan period April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2026

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About bulk plastic collection

In carrying out plastic recycling, we will collectively collect "containers and packaging plastic" and "product plastic" currently being disposed of as combustible waste. In addition, from November 2022, we are conducting a demonstration project targeting some model districts in preparation for full-scale implementation throughout the city.

・Start date April 1, 2023
・Plastic containers and packaging and product plastics (100% plastic materials) subject to collection​

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About cooperation with Yokosuka City

Currently, TBM is working with Yokosuka City to launch various initiatives aimed at realizing a Decarbonization society through the promotion of material circulation. Recyclable LIMEX has already been adopted for the environmental awareness free paper and gift certificates issued by Yokosuka City, and collection has begun in collection boxes. TBM is also working with Yokosuka City to consider a more efficient system for collecting LIMEX products. TBM is also working with Yokosuka City to promote future material circulation initiatives and raise awareness of LIMEX products through tours of Yokosuka Plant and on-site classes at elementary and junior high schools.