Nikkei says that in 2014 alone Japan recovered 143 kilograms of gold, 1,566 kilograms of silver, and 1,112 tons of copper from recycled consumer electronics. Usually cities hosting the games ask mines to donate the materials, but Japan may not have to go that route.
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The 2016 Rio Olympic games concluded on August 21, and now the world is looking forward to the next Olympic games that will be held in Tokyo in 2020. It’s estimated that 16% of the world’s gold and 22% of the planet’s silver is now sitting inside tech all over Japan. In 2013, approximately 556,000 tons of e-waste was recycled – this is only roughly 24% of the e-waste generated in that year. Following the Olympics Closing Ceremony’s tradition that the next host would boast about their country for the next Olympics Games, Japan made the audience gasped for exhilaration with their trailer featuring Doraemon, Pac Man, and of course, lovely Tokyo.
French prosecutors have also launched an investigation into alleged bribes linked to Tokyo’s winning Olympic bid, which organisers have denied.
In addition, executives from mobile company NTT DoCoMo, precious metals company Tanaka Kikinzoku Kogyo, and recycling companies joined the conversation.
“We need a system that makes it easy for consumers to turn in used consumer electronics”, ReNet President Takeshi Kuroda told Nikkei Asian Review.
Moreover, Japan’s recycled precious metals are also being reused to create new electronic devices, silver being the most in demand.
The London Olympic games used 9.6kg of gold, 1,210kg of silver and 700kg of copper (the main ingredient used when making bronze) to make its medals in 2012.
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“A collection system should be created by the private sector, and central and local governments should be in charge of publicising such private services”.
