The revisions made this time involved products to be recycled and the recycling rate.
(1) Greater number of products to be recycled
Flat-panel TVs (LCD and PDP) and clothes dryers were added.
(2) Revision to the recycling rate
The following revisions were made based on actual results.
| After revisions | Before revisions | |
| TVs (CRT) | 55%+ (no change) | 55%+ |
| TVs (flat-panel) | 50%+ | -- |
| Washing machines/clothes dryers | 65%+ | 50%+ |
| Air conditioners | 70%+ | 60%+ |
| Refrigerators/freezers | 60%+ | 50%+ |
The following are unique features related to the recycling of flat-panel TVs, which have become more popular in recent years.
When determining important points for recycling, the composition of valuable materials is examined. Glass accounts for around 60% of CRT TVs, but only around 30% of plasma TVs and around 5% of LCD TVs, which is less than half the figure for CRT TVs. This is because as TVs have become flatter, the amount of the valuable glass has declined. When recycling flat-panel TVs, it is important to properly separate and recover steel and plastics in addition to glass.
Graph shows ratio composition by weight (source: material from bodies such as councils and investigative committees of the Ministry of Environment)
Graph shows ratio composition by weight (source: material from bodies such as councils and investigative committees of the Ministry of Environment)
Just like other products, flat-panel TVs are processed on a specialized line so that they can be recycle based on the concept of "from products to products," recovering recyclable materials and using them in newly produced items.
Recycling of clothes dryers is also shown since clothes dryers are handled in a similar manner to washing machines. Clothes dryers are appropriately handled on the present washing machine line at PETEC since the structure of clothes dryers is similar to that of washing machines.
