Press release
- TBM
- Recycling Plant
TBM and LIMEX start a project of one of the largest recycling plants in Japan that automatically sorts and recycles plastics in Yokosuka City
- Promoting material circulation model through mechanical recycling toward a Decarbonization, circular society -
TBM Co., Ltd., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Nobuyoshi Yamasaki; hereinafter referred to as TBM) collects used LIMEX and waste plastics in Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture, which has declared "Yokosuka City Zero Carbon City". We are pleased to inform you that we will start a project of one of the largest domestic recycling plants (processing capacity: about 40,000 tons per year) that automatically sorts and recycles. In 2018, China started restricting imports of waste plastics, and in 2019, the Basel Convention was revised. The export conditions for waste plastics to Japan have become stricter, and the need for domestic processing of waste plastics is increasing. This plant does not incinerate used LIMEX and plastics, but automatically sorts and cleans them to produce recycled pellets that are used as materials for LIMEX products and recycled plastic products. In Japan, most mechanical recycling plastics are incinerated as a means of effective utilization to recover energy. We aim to curb the consumption of TBM is already working on mechanical recycling in collaboration with business operators, consumers, and local governments in the LIMEX and CircleX businesses. We will work on building a pioneering material circulation model for the realization of a circular economy related to plastics.
Background
In 2019, the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention, which regulates the transboundary movement of hazardous waste, adopted an amendment to the treaty that would include the import and export of contaminated waste plastic. This has made it difficult to export waste plastic overseas, increasing the need for material circulation through domestic recycling and other means. Only approximately 9% of all plastic produced worldwide has been recycled. *1 In Japan, approximately 85% (7.26 million tons) of waste plastic was effectively reused in 2019. Thermal recycling (energy recovery) through incineration, which is not recognized as recycling in Europe or the United States, accounts for approximately 70% (5.13 million tons) of effectively reused plastic. Even if households and businesses separate their waste, much of the waste plastic is incinerated. *2 In its "Plastic material circulation Strategy," the Japanese government promotes mechanical recycling, which reuses waste plastic as raw materials, and aims to "double" the amount of recycled plastic by 2030. mechanical recycling reduces resource consumption compared to thermal recycling because waste plastic is not incinerated. According to the Plastic Waste Management Institute, material recycling has the lowest CO2 emissions of various methods for effectively utilizing waste mechanical recycling compared to other recycling methods and energy recovery, and its reduction effect is approximately 2.3 times greater than energy recovery through incineration for power generation. *3 Furthermore, the "Act on Promotion of material circulation Related to Plastics" was passed in June 2021, which will require fees to be charged for certain plastic products and promote separate collection and remanufacturing by municipalities and waste generators, thereby calling for improvements in the quality and quantity of plastic resource recycling.
* 1 Geyer, R., Jambeck, JR, & Law, KL (2017). Production, use, and fate of all plastics ever made
* 2 "2019 Status of Production, Disposal, Recycling, and Treatment of Plastic Products" by the Plastic Waste Management Institute
* 3 Plastic Waste Management Institute, "Environmental Impact Assessment (LCA) of Plastic Container and Packaging Recycling Methods and Energy Recovery"
Assumptions: Refer to the figures for "plastic containers and packaging discarded from ordinary households," which is assumed to be similar to the target plastic waste of this initiative. For thermal recycling (incineration to generate power), the power generation efficiency is 12.8%, and mechanical recycling, refer to the comparison of CO2 emissions from plastic pallets and recycled material pallets.
Overview
TBM is working to address global environmental issues such as resource depletion and climate change by developing, manufacturing, and selling LIMEX, a new mechanical recycling material made primarily from limestone. Through this, TBM has been promoting the reduction of petroleum-based plastics, CO2 emissions, and the utilization of domestic limestone resources. It has also been working with partner companies and local governments to build a closed-loop recycling model for used LIMEX. In July 2020, TBM launched CirculeX, a material that recycles used LIMEX and waste plastics. To meet the growing global demand for recycled material, TBM has been developing applications for recycled material, such as CirculeX garbage bags. This project will promote material recycling by collaborating with Yokosuka City's collection and transportation companies to collect used LIMEX, which is currently used by over 6,000 companies and organizations as an alternative to plastic and paper, and waste mechanical recycling that is currently in need of disposal within Japan. The plant has been certified as part of Kanagawa Prefecture's "Select Kanagawa NEXT" initiative, a business attraction initiative aimed at revitalizing the prefecture's economy and creating jobs.
Characteristics of the recycling plant
The world's first plant that automatically sorts and recycles LIMEX and general-purpose plastics
In cooperation with a major overseas sorting machine manufacturer, we have proceeded with the verification of near-infrared material detection and sorting, and have developed a unique program that automatically sorts only LIMEX from other materials such as plastic and paper. We manufacture recycled pellets, which are materials for LIMEX products and recycled plastic products, from collected used LIMEX and waste plastics.
One of the largest plastic recycling plants in Japan
The plant will have an annual processing capacity of approximately 40,000 tons and an annual production capacity of approximately 24,000 tons of recycled pellets, making it one of the largest plastic recycling plants in Japan. By mechanical recycling materials into recycled pellets with competitive price, CO 2 We will reduce emissions and contribute to the promotion of "Yokosuka City Zero Carbon City".
Innovativeness in recycling miscellaneous business-related waste plastics that have conventionally been incinerated
Many recycling plants collect waste plastics from factories where collection targets have been narrowed down and produce recycled pellets. With the introduction of an automatic sorting line, this plant will be able to actively accept and recycle miscellaneous business-related waste plastics generated from offices, factories, etc., which have traditionally been incinerated.
Pioneering the Recycling of Product Plastics from Households
From 2022 onwards, there will be a demand for a recycling system compatible with the new sorting category of “plastic resources,” which will collectively collect all types of waste plastic generated from households. It is possible to.
[Overview of Recycling Plant]
・Location: Part of 58-8 Shinmeicho, Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture
・Site area 13,693.50 m²
・Building floor area 7,859.85 m²
・Amount underwritten: Approx. 40,000 t/year
・Production volume: about 24,000 tons/year
・Start of operations Autumn 2022 (planned)
Comment from Nobuyoshi Yamasaki TBM CEO
This plant is the world's first base to collect, sort and recycle LIMEX, and it is a great honor to be able to take this big step in Yokosuka City, which is aiming for a zero carbon city. In addition, in response to the growing need for plastic recycling in Japan triggered by export restrictions on waste plastics, we will start from Yokosuka and work with companies in the city to develop a new material circulation model. We will build, disseminate and expand both domestically and internationally. TBM will continue to strive to become the world's top player in the sustainability field.
Comment from Katsuaki Uechi, Mayor of Yokosuka City
Yokosuka City declared itself a "Zero Carbon City" in January of this year and plans to enact the "Protect the Earth: Yokosuka Zero Carbon Promotion Ordinance" in October. These city initiatives, along with your company's planned construction of a new plant in the city to manufacture environmentally friendly materials, will contribute to promoting global warming countermeasures toward a Decarbonization society. Furthermore, your company's efforts to not only reduce and recycle waste plastic but also achieve upcycling are in line with our city's goal of "Promoting a 'Circular City Yokosuka' Connected to the Future" to minimize environmental impact. We look forward to exploring potential collaborations and cooperation in the future. We hope your new plant will spread the word about sustainable, zero-carbon initiatives from Yokosuka to the world.