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On September 22, 2012, Akira Nakajima, thePresident & CEO of Re-Tem Corporation declared“Yacchimer bet” in the headquarters in Tokyo.
As environmental issues are intensifying every year,
Re-Tem began to move on its own.

Environmental issues are amatter of life-or-deaththough they invite disgust, they directly assert theRe-Tem has a department dedicated to management of

Ryoichi Yamamoto, an honorary professor of Tokyo

facts and their thoughts. Nakajima thinks that punks

legal affairs, information, labor safety, and technology

University points out that the tipping point (criticalare close to the “Yacchimer bet” mindset in thedevelopment named “RISM”. In August 2012 the teampoint) of life on Earth is in 2025, and that there is ameaning of keep on moving.

elevated to “a division” to enhance its leverage.Moreover,high possibility of the ecosystem starting to collapsethat year. “Earthquakes and tsunamis are natural
disasters. However, the one which occur without

Strong Management

Re-Tem introduced cloud computing to promotesmooth operation of the business and revitalization ofcommunication. The company established the world's

sufficient preparation is man-made disaster. We

Now, “Yacchimer bet” what? This clearly refers to thefirst feasible recycling process in October 2012 to sortshould take actions for environmental issues, with noenhancement of eco-management. Eco-managementout capacitors which include tantalum, a type of rareexcuse like it was out of our expectations”, said

manages the overall regional environment, i.e. whenmetal. Furthermore, taking advantage of the small

Nakajima. “I want everyone to consider

we talk about material, understanding the material

household appliances recycling law enacted in April

environmental issues are a matter of life and death thatflow accurately to circulate the material. Resources

2013, Re-Tem started the collection business for small

involves your entire life, your children andmust be recycled as the natural resources willhousehold appliances in Tokyo and 4 prefectures in

grandchildren. I, myself take it as the matter thateventually be exhausted. The environment will be

Kanto in cooperation with municipalities. The company

involves the fate of human beings.”

destroyed even further by more digging. Under suchoperates a recycling business in China, and has initiatedcircumstances, there are only a few companies who

feasibility research in Turkey.

Let's Be Eco Punks
The word “Yacchimer bet” has a meaning that makeup your mind and make a start with the work left

can manage the environment. We begun taking action
on our own, aiming to be an eco-managementcompany which connects all stakeholders horizontally.

Reform to Survive
Nakajima has repeatedly emphasized the importance ofunmanageable level. Re-Tem will move no matter

If eco-management is penetrated into
Active in Japan & Abroad eco-management.
society, it will greatly reduce the threat of an environmental

what others do. No action leads us nothing. Frankly,

Re-Tem has already started enhancement of ourcrisis. Nakajima says there is no meaning in the work

this is why I say “Yacchimer bet”. Nakajima says

management ability. In order to perform advanced

if it does not serve to society. Nakajima says we aim“Let’s Be Eco Punks”. The word punk may remind

environmental management, first, our own company

to gain profit through such work, and to utilize it as

you of bad boys who hate authority; however, evenmust be operated under advanced management.

means to further contribution to the society.

pushed back.The environmental issues are driven to an

Re-Tem ECO Times

re-tem.com

2

The United Nations (UN) predicts the planet’s population will exceed 9 billion in 2050,
and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) estimates the resource consumption andenvironmental impact will become twice of the natural regeneration potential in 2030.
The economic and social activities of mankind are seriously affecting the earth, such as
global warming and abnormal weather, and expected become worsen markedly in the future.

32025 the Critical Point of Life on Earth

Ryoichi Yamamoto, Honorary Professor of Tokyo University

However, in order to control the increase in the world’s

north pole and the Greenland ice sheets has been reported,

average temperature to 2 ºC or less, the CO2 emissions

due to the advanced warming with twice the speed of themust be decreased by 5.1% annually, which is already too

global average, mainly caused by decrease of the sunlightlate to keep the 2 ºC target、and concluded we must be

reflectance due to the snow ice melting. Particularly, theready for an increase of 4 or even 6 ºC.

decline of the sea ice area of the north pole broke records

The reason why the global warming is a concern isin September, and the volume has decreased to 50% ofthat it will cause irreversible climatic changes which will

what it was 3 years ago.

continue for 1,000 years, even if the CO2 emissions could

It is believed that 70 - 95% of the dissipation of the sea ice

be eliminated completely. In 2009, 155 scientists issued

at the north pole is caused by global warming of

the Monaco Declaration, due to concerns over the ocean

man-made origin. Abnormal weather in the mid-latitude

acidification caused by the absorption of CO2, which isregions is possibly caused, as a result of the decline inaffecting the ecosystem. In 2012, 2,600 scientists signed a

speed of the jet stream due to the dissipation of the sea ice

consensus statement to save the coral reefs. Biologists

at the north pole during the summer, which induces large

believe that all life on earth is approaching a critical point,meanders. It is assumed that this has caused the heavy

and are warning that 2025 when the human activities

Human beings may be facing aplanetary emergency. First, people started

snowfalls in the northeastern U.S., the heat waves in

occupy 50% of the surface of the land may become theRussia in recent years. The abnormal weather is one oftipping point (critical point).

feeling the global warming impacts are immediate

large factors in the sudden price increase of grains, such asproblems. According to the Meteorological Agency, thesoybeans and corn.

It is needless to say that this planetary emergency iscaused by the population growth, and continuous

On the other hand, upon the agreement of all

extensive use and mass disposal of resource energy,

since the statistical data started in 1898. The highest

countries at COP18, the international society decided toaiming for a physically rich and wealthy life. In anumber ever, 1,731 people died from headstroke in 2010.

postpone the start of drastic reductions of greenhousesustainable eco-civilization, a stable population, use of

The death toll is estimated to grow by 40 - 60% with 1gases till 2020. Pricewaterhouse Coopers recently

natural energy and 100% recycling of exhaustible

degree rise in temperature. It is thought that 3/4 of thereported, the carbon intensity of the world economy (CO2resources are at least required. Such efforts are just now

global warming since 1950 is caused by greenhouse gases

emissions per GDP) decreased by 0.7% in 2011.

being started.

average temperature in September 2012 was the highest

Let's sing together

The 3R’s
We’ve got three R’s
we’re going to talk about today

Reduce, reuse, recycle!
UICY-20298

Sing-A-Longs and Lullabies for the film
“Curious George”
14 songs total including “The 3 R’s”

Jack Johnston and Friends
Universal Music
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re-tem.com

of man-made origin. Dissipation of the sea ice around theRe-Tem ECO Times

Contribution

4

Re-Tem ECO Times

re-tem.com

誰もしないかWorld’s
World’s Tantalum

1st.

Capacitor
RecoveryLine

R&D in Mito toward utilization,
NEDO subsidized projectら

Be c a us e N

dy Do
o bo

es It

recovery from electronic substrates and etc. for practicaluse” March 2011 to March 2012 in collaboration with the
National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science andTechnology (AIST) and Waseda University. The project
costed approx. 100M yen partly subsidized by New

Accepted by refineries

Tantalum Grade
40% Max

Energy and Industrial Technology Development

Tantalum Capacitors

Organization (NEDO).
Besides Re-Tem’s technique such as the separationand concentration processes of electronic components, theline is equipped with a new air flow separator and inclined
low intensity magnetic separator developed by AIST. The
recovery of the tantalum capacitor with the new line
achieved more than 90%, the sample of which Mitsui
Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd. analyzed and judged goodOn October 1, 2012, Re-Tem announced that a feasibleline for the separation and collection of tantalum

enough to buy.
Yoko Urade the General Manager of the Sustainablecapacitors used in electronic substrates was constructed inManagement Department in charge of the project

their Mito Factory. The mechanized separation and recovery

mentioned “By separating and concentrating tantalum

line for tantalum capacitors is the first in the world.

capacitors at Re-Tem, it can be recycled as a metal, not

Re-Tem will cooperate with tantalum refineries to recycle

becoming a slag after smelting process. By this way wetantalum in future. Tantalum is a type of rare metal.

will contribute to the closed recycling of tantalum”.

Concentrated Tantalum Capacitors

Many of these capacitors are used in electronic
substrates, such as in PCs, servers, appliances and etc.

Weight ratio

0.9-3.5%

Recovery ratio

53-67%

Concentration ratio

38-57

Grade

69-97%

Recovery Process Flow

Conventionally the capacitors were sent to landﬁlls.
The government designated five rare metals
including tantalum as “prioritized metals to be recycled

tearing off
capacitors(tantalum, cobalt, tungsten, neodymium, dysprosium)”, toestablish technologies forwardly.

Substrates

Mixtured elements

separating
specific parts
by air flow, etc.

Extraction and evaluation(Gold, silver, copper,
palladium, etc.)

Feasibility Study on
Waste Recycling inTurkeyof manifest
slips onTurkey Version WEEE
Directive Enacted in 2013industrial

Implemented in TEDA,
70 companies participated

Extraction and evaluation

Process designing, Proving and Economical evaluation

Pilot projectinin China solid waste

Tantalum
Refinery

Other Metal refinery
Other elements

Re-Tem implemented a “R&D project for tantalum

1st

Separation
process

Crushing

Concentrated
capacitors

May to November 2012, Re-Tem members flew toTurkey
Kick-off meeting of TEDA Manifest pilot projectand studied current status of recycling appliances andelectronic devices, which are done by manual process. It
was performed under the collaborated project with Toyota
Tsusho Corporation, and was subsidized by Ministry of

From April 2011 to January 2012 in the Tianjin Economic

the Environment. Re-Tem made a analysis on how much

Technological Development Area (TEDA) located ingold, silver and copper could be recovered, on the

China, Re-Tem took the lead in performing the design andassumption of performing mechanical process.

testing of the report system by manifest slips of industrial

The WEEE directive requires EU member countries

solid waste. With the exception of hazardous waste, useestablishment of E-waste recycling system to stop destructionof the manifest on waste treatment is not legally imposedof the natural environment caused by inappropriate disposalof E-waste. Since Turkey is aiming to become an EU

in China.
About 30 waste generators and 40 collectors joined

Surveying at a Chinese Recycler

member, they will enforce Turkey version of WEEE

the pilot. As a result, recycling method and waste flow

Upon Re-Tem’s proposal in 2008 on the concept of an

Directives from May 2013

from generation to the landfill were understood by the

Eco Center as the management platform of the overall

and they are hastily

type and volume. Enhancing the traceability in the future,

TEDA, the center was established in 2009 and named

attempting recycling system

Re-Tem proposed a measure which is to temporarily“Tianjin TEDA Eco Center”. The center is managed

development. Japan has

collect all type of waste in one specified collection center,

under the advice of Re-Tem, and provides companies inrecycling technologies ofand have them pre-treated before sending them to recycling

the area with business matching opportunities, technology

the leading edge in the world,companies. TEDA government in 2012 conductedinfo and environmental education. The manifest projectand is expected to support

themselves a similar pilot in Nangang Industrial Zone.

was also as a part of eco-management by the center.

with introducing mechanical

TEDA is a national economic development zone

Re-Tem is now proposing that technical exhibitions,where global companies such as the Toyota, Samsung,environmental education events for children be held in

Motorola and many others have their production bases.

the facility.

recycling process of E-waste.
E-waste Disassembly by a Recycler in Turkey

5Nationwide
Management
of
Waste
in
Japan
Offices and BuildingsConcept of Waste Management of a Whole Building

management services of recycling, which is geared for

Changeclients operating broad based business. The point of the
Individual
Management

service is to provide appropriate waste disposal and risk
management at the unified specification nationwide, toRecyclers

Recyclers

release clients from clerical troubles and concerns on

teria

Cafe

Documents

related risks used to be caused with their plants andbranches. Re-Tem makes a clear distinction from otherGene

gained through their own plant management and theservice companies network of Japan Recycle Improvement

s

ffair

ral A

OA
Equipmentsbuilding custodial services, by utilizing the know-how

Unifying

Company A

Food
Waste

IT

Yuji Sawamura

Committee (J-RIC). We interviewed Yuji Sawamura, themanager of the Tokyo Sales Dept.
future to meet the needs of clients. For example,

Unified Waste Management
Service by RISM method

providing a packaged management service of wasteConcept of Unified Waste Management
Recyclers

disposal of a whole headquarters building of a businessgiant. Re-Tem aims to receive all types of waste including

Sapporodaily trash and etc. whether or not it is metal, utilizing
Increasing Orders

Re-Tem's business network. They even hope to apply

We have received orders for the service from clients in asuch service in a wide area.

Individual deals

broad range of industries nationwide, such as major
beverage manufacturers, paper manufacturers, leasing
companies, OA equipment manufacturers, and many others.

Advanced Waste
Management Services

Attraction of the Service

Fukuoka

Recyclers

Osaka
Factory

The clients are very concious of compliance and risk

Requirements of today

controls, as they could potentially be arrested for a

Companies with high consciousness, establish their own

violation of laws, without even knowing, caused by plants

plants for recycling of their waste. However, waste

and branches nationwide. They need to unify waste

recycling consists of complex factors and expertise such as

management procedures of the plants and branches to reducelaws and regulations being individually adopted by therisks. Also it appeals to the clients in cost aspect. If for themunicipalities, yearly revised national laws. Companies

unified price, it is easy to judge value of the service.

seem to have a limitation in self waste management. We

Headquarters

Recyclers

NagoyaRecyclers

ChangeRecyclers

Sapporocontinually strengthen our expertise to provide highly

Advantage is anationwide network (J-RIC)

advanced services to meet the requirements of today.
Packaged Service

Vision of our services

Headquarters

Our goal is to develop long-term reliable relationships with
Contents of the service

clients as a specialist in waste management services. In

In the case of recycling metal scrap and mixtures forfact we have been supporting a major financial device

Company A who has operation bases in four locations in

manufacturer on long-term basis covering their

Japan, Re-Tem serves as the sole contact to manage thenationwide bases.

FukuokaOsaka
Factory

Nationwide
frameworktasks, such as manifest slips, reports to the municipalities,
by Re-Tem or J-RIC member recyclers nearest to each of
the client bases, while Re-Tem coordinates all the recyclers.

NagoyaRecyclers

whole system as well as helping those bases with clericalprice setting. The recycling work is implemented either

Recyclers

Recyclers

China“Yacchimer bet” with Japanese advanced technology
President Xiaotao Liu commented “entire factory is

New Challenges

coming as one to become a leading factory.”

Re-Tem mainly takes up metal waste, however we are to

We have a plan to organize a dedicated team for

expand into an extensive waste management service in theboth increasing sales and accelerating the resource
circulaton in China, which we believe, encourages
establishing a transparent waste management inWhat is J-RIC?

J-RIC is an abbreviation of the “Japan Recycle Improvement Committee”. It
was organized in 1998 by Re-Tem as the leader to aim at unifying quality ofrecycling services from Hokkaido to Okinawa, at over 50 recycling factories.

President of Taicang factory,
Xiaotao Liu & Family

Factory staffs

the society.

Taicang factory improved processing speed with a new plastic crushing machine installed in 2012. Highmotivation enhances staff’s activities.

re-tem.com

Re-Tem is making a conscious effort towards unified

Re-Tem ECO Times

In J a p a n ,in a
I n Ch6
re-tem.com

de v e l o pi n g
n m inebauranRe-Tem ECO Times

Recovering Useful Metals
from used Small Appliances
Business experience
with more than 30
municipalities

Collection
to Recycling

Flow from(In the case of Nerima-ku, Tokyo)[Example]Collection of small appliancesin Nerima-ku

1Collecting

Re-Tem recycles collected
products

Re-Tem in cooperation with municipalities isfocusing on the recycling of small appliances disposedof by households. From 2008 to 2012, Re-Tem
implemented a model project of the government to

In September 2011, Nerima-ku, Tokyo started separating

recover useful metals from small appliances in Ibaraki.

small appliances from bulky waste, also placing

Having contracted with more than 30 municipalities

collection boxes. Besides Nerima-ku appreciate rare

mainly in Kanto and started recycling small appliances,metals and precious metals included in small

the company gained the know-how and experience

appliances, they are to reduce the volume of waste in theiron collection strategy, efficient transportation,area. The appliances sorted out of bulky waste arerecycling methods and awareness building. In April

disassembled at their own recycle center, and then2013, the small household appliances recycling law

transported to Re-Tem. Nine items, such as mobile phones

was enacted, which is adding momentum toand etc. collected in the boxes in town are then recycledmunicipalities' interest. Re-Tem will continue toat Re-Tem.

Collection boxes placed in 5 city
facilities (increased to 9 locations by
October 2012). Since collected itemsin the boxes quite possibly containpersonal information, boxes arelocked and placed in public locations
where security guards are stationed at
all times. The collection box isdesigned with intensive functions,such as to prevent cans and petbottles thrown into. On average,
about 200 mobile phones arecollected per month from the boxes.

further enhance their activities.

Small Household Appliances Recycling Law
Enacted in April 2013
Description

What is the Small Household Appliances Recycling Law
Conventionally, most of the small appliances disposed ofUnder such circumstances, the government approved

Moreover, introduced a new system to certify recyclers,by households have been collected by municipalities andthis new law in August 2012 to have it enacted in 2013.

who play key role of the national recycling scheme.

sent to landfills. However, these appliances include rare

For the waste reduction and resource circulation by

Reliable and appropriate recyclers are only be certiﬁed bymetals essential for high tech products, not only precious

recycling appliances, the laws requires cooperation among

the government to obtain contracts on used

metals, such as gold and silver. Sending the metals to landfill

all parties concerned, such as households as waste

appliances with municipalities.

without recycling has raised questions on the points of securing

generators, municipalities as collectors, intermediate

resources and establishing a recycling oriented society.

recyclers and metal refineriesConceptual Diagram of Small Household Appliances Recycling Law
Certified bygovernment

Making recycling plan
Receiving waste from municipality

Contract

Deliver to certified recyclers

Certified recycler
Separation of appliances
Deliver to certified recyclers

Green designing anduse of recycled materials

Manufacturing& Sales

Corporation

Disposal

ConsumerSupervisingTransport

Municipality

Transport

Intermediate recycler

Metal refinery

Circulation use

2

Dis

kyo)

Re-Tem pays particular attention to the design of the factory andoffice. Re-Tem’s Tokyo factory was designed by Taku Sakaushi, who
is an architect as well as a professor of the Faculty of Engineering at
the Tokyo University of Science. Sakaushi has designed numbers of2

3

modern architecture to date, mainly housing and welfare facilities.

Delivery toTokyo Factory

The designs of Sakaushi are highly acclaimed in and out of Japan,
and the Tokyo Factory won The Chicago Athenaeum Museum ofArchitecture and Design International Architectural Award in 2007.

The Taicang Factory (China) and the Myojin Office (Tokyo) were also
designed by him.

Disassembling
The capacity of the Tokyo factory is 864t per day. The small
appliances received from Nerima-ku are transported to RetemTokyo factory in Tokyo Super Eco-Town, Ota-ku. September
2011 to July 2012, about 46 tons were received .
Once a month, city staffs pick up theitems in the collection boxes in 9 locations
in Nerima-ku, to deliver them to the
Nerima-ku Recycle Center. The mobile
phones are hole-punched to destroy the
personal information. In the recycle
center, the appliances disposed as bulky
waste are manually disassembled, toseparate the motors, electronic substrates
and cables from others.

4

Crushing and Fine Separation
Waste including small appliances is throwninto the crusher by a heavy machinery, andbecomes a flaky mixture of metal and resin.
Lightweight materials like plastics are
removed by wind power to get the metal
mixture, from which the iron is sorted out
then by magnetic force. And the remainder
is separated by weight and size in a rotary
screener and vibrating sorter, to make anonferrous metal mixture.

w
Can I take5

Delivery to Mito Factory

tomorrow off...?

tify recyclers,heme.

certiﬁed bysedlation use

The nonferrous metal mixture is transported to the Mito factory in Ibaraki.
Mito factory is about six times the size of the Tokyo factory, and performs highly
concentrated separation and recycling of both iron and nonferrous metals far better
than general scraps.

6

For Recovery of Highly
Concentrated Material

The nonferrous metal mixture received from the Tokyo factory is again crushed andseparated, to extract the gold, silver, copper sediment, aluminum, stainless steel andetc., and to be shipped to smelters and aluminum alloy manufacturers.

re-tem.com

ed in 5 cityo 9 locations bycollected items
ssibly containboxes arepublic locations
s are stationed aton box isve functions,ns and pet
On average,
ones arerom the boxes.

A recycling factory of the near-future

Re-Tem ECO Times

on
ng

7

8

Re-Tem ECO Times

re-tem.com

誰もしないから

Wi t h Ch i l d renSeeing is Believing
Currently Re-Tem offers programs such as seminers,
events, site tours and so on, designed for a variety of
stakeholders such as school children, university students,
companies, goverment officials and etc.

62 Factory Tours with
1,059 People in 2012Children touring the Tokyo Factory

In FY2012 (August, 2011 - July, 2012), Re-Tem provided
62 factory tours including 1,059 people at the Tokyo
Factory and Mito Factory. These figures show that

Parents & children tour at Mito factory

Re-Tem provided factory tours once or more per week. A
wide range of people and organizations visit our factories,
such as politicians, public administrators, companies,

List of Visiters August, 2011-July, 2012
Category

schools, common citizens, media, and overseas inspectiongroups. Re-Tem believes that it is best to show the sites inEnvironmental Bureau of Tokyo Metropolitan Government

have aggressively been accepting factory tours from theGovernment andMunicipalities

Environmental Event

Collecting small appliances &playing environmental games

Re-Tem Environmental Class

disassembly of mobile phones at theRe-Tem Tokyo Factory(also available at requested place)

Tokyo Super Eco-Town &Re-Tem Factory Tour

Visiting advanced recycling facilities.

Environmental Seminar

Lectures by environmental experts on
various themes

Fuchu City Office
Ministry of the Environment
Shizuoka Urban Cleaning Conference
Ibaraki Eco-Frontier Kasama

Education and Training Programs
ProgramIbaraki Prefecture Planning Dept.

Mitaka-shi Electoral District

viewpoint of “environmental education”.


Visitors
Economic Affairs Bureau,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (OECD)order for people to sense the environmental issues, and we
Challenging the disassembly

Hosei University

Applicants

Subject

Adults,Elementary &junior highResource recovery
and metal recycling

Elementary
school,higher grade
Junior high,Parents

Importance of recycling
through disassemblyof mobile phones

For adults(Residents,
companies,
governments)

Resources & waste
problems and therecycling flow

For adults(Residents,
companies,
governments)

The world’s
environmental issues
and measures inJapan (Selectable)

Outline・ Recovery of used small
appliances・ Quizzes and games

Remarks

・ Recycling factory tour
(e.g. Metals, food, constructionwaste, and biomass energy)
・ Explanations for beginners
with slides and materials
・ Questions & answers

Waseda University
Ibaraki University
Science University of Tokyo
Shibaura Institute of Technology

・ Charged

・ Observation of Metal recycling
・ 3 hrs.
process at factory・ 15 pairs (30 people)
・ Resource issues and recycling
・ Charged
・ Disassembly of mobile phones
Present staus and problemsof resources and waste

Universities

Minami-Nagareyama Elementary School

Schools

Saitama City Office
Sennan Elementary School
Daiichi Kameido Elementary School
Shujitsu Junior High School
Tokyo Waterfront Recycle Power Co., Ltd.

Organizations
・ 4 hrs.
・ About 30 people
・ Charged

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
Japan Environmental Sanitation Center
International Green Purchasing Network (IGPN)
Japan Industrial Waste Management Foundation
Federation of Industries of the State of Sao Paulo (FIESP)
Sino-Japan Friendship Centre for Environmental Protection

・ 3 hrs.
・ from 20 people
・ Charged

Overseas

Korea Environment Corporation
The Peninsula Hotel (Hong Kong)
Tianjin Binhai Business Affairs Committee
International Economic Cooperation Co., Ltd.

M•O•B• I •L•E
P•H•O•N•E•S
Mobile Phone
Disassembly Class“enlightening!”, “I’ll separate items before
throwing away.” These are the comments we
received from participants. They actuallychallenge the disassembly and create a boardof samples to take home while learning
resource depletion and strong needs ofrecycling.

Contact: Sustainable Management Department
info@re-tem.com

9

Diverse Personnel gather with Environment
as the Keyword
Extremely diverse personnel work at Re-Tem. You canof CFC is obligated by law, andfind Today’s Re-Tem through them.

we eliminate from business-use
air conditioners, freezers &refrigerators and vending
machines. I was assisting others

Junko Tachihara

Material Recycling Group, MITO Operation Department

at first, and in 2007 the company

The word “recycling service” in the job ad, made me thinkrecommended that I study for aof a shop that repairs and sell broken products. I wastechnical license for eliminating

Nakajima, President & CEO
gives a speech in Malaysia

CFC gas. I was truly grateful for the opportunity.

shocked to find out Retem destroy used products to

In 2013, 8,000kg would be coming in, and therecover the resources. Untill then I had not imagined ofsuch a business. Although disassembly of metal waste is aelimination volume would reach 10 times that of thetough job, I never disliked it because I am proud of doing

previous year. An extra staff joined and the capacity of thegood to environment.

CFC recovery machine also increased. We say “it’s done”
on site just after we are through with all items, and I really

I eliminate chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) gas, and I am
the only female staff in my team. The appropriate treatment

love that moment.

Akira Nakajima

On October 10, 2012, Akira Nakajima, the President &CEO of Re-Tem gave a speech at “The 3rd International
Greentech & Eco Products Exhibition & Conference
Malaysia” held in Malaysia. He introduced collaboration

Considering a long span of 5 years and 10 years
Yoshiko Seto

cases by public-private in Japan concerning recycling andSustainable Management Department

household appliances, the project to recover tantalum

I studied mechanical crushing andcapacitors from electronic substrates, and research ofsorting as a theme in thee-waste recycling in Turkey.

waste management. He also spoke about the 100% waste
recycling in the Re-Tem Tokyo factory. The event
recorded 86,372 visitors.

Graduate School of Science andI believe the technology must be evaluated by theEngineering of Waseda University,content. I wanted to be involved in environmental businessand joined Re-Tem in 2008

so as to challenge myself being of use to society, not for mythrough the introduction of a

own achievements. There is no meaning in my job if it isprofessor in the laboratory. Since

not put in practical use in society. I believe that the results

then, I have experienced various types of work, such asof the environmental technology must be evaluated in a

Ibaraki model project to recover rare metals from small

long span of 5 and 10 years.

Recognized as a leading industrial
waste recycler
Under the MOE’s recognition system enacted in April
2011, Re-Tem was officially recognized as a “leadingindustrial waste recycler”. In this system, prefectures andmunicipalities examine applicant companies in terms of the
openness to the public such as the disclosure of businesspermission, maintenance status of facilities, environmental

Enhancing the visibility in China as “Management Service Company”

considerations and ISO 14001 certification, as well as
reviewing use of electronic manifests, financial condition,

Zheng Huang,

legal violations and etc. As of the end of July 2012, only

China Business Department

Sustainable Management Department

382 among approx. 120,000 recyclers (including[Liu] TEDA Eco Center was[Huang] Re-Tem is meant for thetransporters) in Japan have been officially recognized as

established March 2010, based

environmental business between

leading companies.

on the suggestions of Retem, inJapan and China. The opportunity

the special economic zone infor me to join Re-Tem came

Tianjin named “TEDA”, which

through a professor of a graduate

is a model area of the circulation

school in Japan, where I studied

Xu LiuIbaraki-machi Hinuma
Environmental Festival
On October 14, 2012 in the “Hinuma

based industry of China. The center manages the overall

environmentology. Right after I joined the company, I was

Environmental Festival” Re-Tem held aenvironmental preservation of TEDA.

assigned to a METI’s research project on waste recycling

panel exhibition, gave quizzes to visitors

status of overseas, also the start up of a subsidiary in

explaining the importance of metal

We conducted research in TEDA for several years as
recycling industry’s overseas expansion projects supported

Beijing. I still remember that those work brought me a

by METI. The environmental business is part of China’s

sense of accomplishment. The attractiveness of Re-Tem isnational strategy for economic growth. We feel needed

opportunities open to anyone. I wish to utilize the advanced

when we hear the clients say they entrust the research only

technology and experience I have gained with Re-Tem in

to Re-Tem.

contribution to a sustainable society.

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Video clip “Ecomotion” Now Showing

1992

e-waste including mobile phones andEmployees and their families

Doomsday clock went ahead 22 minutes from 2011.
The environmental doomsday clock announced in September
2012 was at 9:23, went ahead significantly by 22 minutes
within a year. The clock sets that the end of mankind is when
it reaches 12:00.
Each year the Asahi Glass Foundation conducts a surveyof intellectuals’ world wide, and announces the time on thedoomsday clock. Climate change was the largest response in
the survey as the reason for the advancement of the clock in
2012. As obstructing causes, large number responded “pursuitof economic profit” and “global economic system”.

recycling, and collected small-sized

:00

Sl

ig

The images of time, environment and recycling. Produced in February 2013.
6 minutes. http://www.youtube.com/user/ReTemCorp

The Mito factory regularly cleans the streets, also performs
illegal damping patrols in the area around Mito City.

re-tem.com

Eliminating CFC gases by 10 times
in the futureNews Digest
2012

Re-Tem ECO Times

to g e t h er

Re-Tem ECO Times

re-tem.com

10

Headquarters& Factories“Got in motion!”
Tokyo Factory

Don’t say “No” towhat's brought inand “Yacchimer bet”

The Myojin office is a non-territorial office.

holidays.Takamitsu Ichimura, the Tokyo
factory manager mentioned his mindsetof “take whatever brought in”. In
November they started using a newwarehouse to store the received items,
also adopted a new rule stopping theIncreased recycling volume byextended work hours.

machines and having all the staff assists in unloading the

He reserved the phrase until the organizational reform took

The Tokyo factory started operation in 2005, mainly

focus on hiring new staff and enhancement of the training,

place in August 2012, and the non-territorial office wasreceiving metal waste in the Tokyo metropolitan

staggered commuting is to be introduced once adequate

opened at the time. He intended to spread the “Yacchimer

area.The recycling volume increased continuously andstaffing is secured. Ichimura who was born and grew up in

bet” spirit within the employees by providing an open

the shipments of recovered iron in 2012 is up 22% y/y.

Mito, says “Yacchimer bet” is a phrase used to stimulateorganization and work place. Six months after starting the

They aim for further increases.By enhancing cooperationteam chemistry, meaning let’s roll it. The Tokyo factory is

new office, we went to the sites to see how it goes.

with the sales, Tokyo factory started accepting

steadily reforming themselves to achieve the ultimate goal

pre-notified loads on the weekends and nationalof a 24 hour operation.

Akira Nakajima, President & CEO first mentioned “Yacchimer
bet” when the corporate philosophy was drawn up in 2010.

Headquarters

Mito Factory

UpgradingR

Environmental risks

Information management risks

CO2, noise & vibration, air pollution, etc.

I SM

Personal information leaks fromreceived waste,
information system incidents

Environment“Yacchimer bet”
for the area

（ISO14001）

Enhancement of management leverageRwaste when extraordinary volume is received. As they

Information security（ISO27001）

RISM

ISM is the abbreviation of Re-Tem Integrated
System of Management. An integrated

management system of the 4 official standards of the
Occupational Safety
and Healthenvironment, information, labor safety and health, andrisks, which has been operated all across the factories,（OHSAS18001）

sales and administration in Re-Tem. The PDCA-cycle
nearly got rooted in the company. In an attempt to utilize
the management know-how gained till today for the

Risk（JISQ31000）

Accident and disaster risks

external management services, as well as for further
evolution of RISM, the company reformed RISM teamwith broaden responsibilities in August 2012 and named it

Accidents, disasters, injuries

Contractor management risks
Illegal dumping, illegal exportof waste, etc.

Compliance risks
Ignorance and violationsof laws and regulations

Management Enhancement Division. Experts in legal affairs,

function since Re-Tem aims to be an advanced management

information, labor safety and technology development areservice company. We can say this new organization was

assembled in the division. This division will serve essentialborn with Nakajima’s passion for “Yacchimer bet”.

Recycling metal waste of local residents
The Mito factory is a wide area
recycling designated factory of manyO v e r s e as

O ff i ces

as w

information device manufacturers,

ell[Beijing Office]< Let’s Roll ! >[Seattle Office]possessing advanced technology
required to recycle metal and plastic
composites with nearly zero residue.
After the factory was constructed in
1970, many people moved in its
surroundings. The factory grew with the area. It comes as

Name:Re-Tem (Beijing) Environmental Technology & Management Co., Ltd.
Location:
Beijing
Business:
Research and consulting service for municipalities,Chinese andJapanese companies on resource circulation and energy saving

Name:
Re-Tem Global Eco Management Inc.
Location:
Seattle, Washington
Business:
Research and consulting service for municipalities, US andJapanese companies on resource circulation and energy saving

no surprise “we roll” for the area. The clean center
managed by Ibaraki-machi can not treat nonstandard
metal waste disposed of by households. Residents used
to search for a recycling factory to carry waste great
distances on their own. “If we take it, it will prevent illegalOutline of Re-Tem

The resource recycling and management company established in Mito, Ibaraki in 1909. In 1993, a high-end crushing machine “Process I” installed in the
Mito factory achieved zero emissions of metal and plastic composites. In 2005, constructed the Tokyo factory in the Super Eco-Town in Jonanjima,
Ota-ku, Tokyo.The company’s main business are recovering iron, precious metals, and nonferrious metals from waste called the city mine, and consulting
service. Headquartered in Tokyo.
Re-Tem Eco Times 2013This paper is the 2012 Ver. “CSR Report” periodically issued by Re-Tem. We reported this year’s CSR activities in a newspaper format, going against
many other reports with heavy pages and rather rigid. Reporting period: FY2012 (August 2011 - July 2012). Breakthrough topics were published till
December 2012.
Contact (Re-Tem Eco Times and CSR Web)

Re-Tem Corporation Management Enhancement Division Public Relations Gr.
2-15-2 Soto-Kanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0021 publicity@re-tem.com

disposal”.Yasuhiro Okawa, the Mito factory manager
proposed the acceptance of the waste to Ibaraki-machi.
The service started November 2012 with a safe receiving
yard near factory entrance. “People tend to have a bad
image of waste treatment services. People get
recycling-conscious by knowing that Re-Tem returns
waste to resources”. We go on enhancing cooperation withmunicipalities and residents to further contribute recycling
promotion of the area.