Association for Electric Home Appliances and Kasumidai Welfare Facility Association Sign Cooperation Agreement to Improve Consumer Convenience in Home Appliance Recycling

Under the Home Appliance Recycling Law, four types of waste appliances (air conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines, and televisions) are typically disposed of through retailers. However, a challenge remains for 'non-obligatory collection items'—appliances where the original retailer is unknown, out of business, or located too far away. A national report has recommended that building collection systems for these items is effective for addressing changing social needs and preventing illegal dumping. While many municipalities have established collection systems by partnering with local retailers or introducing licensed waste collectors, these processes are often cumbersome, requiring advance payment at post offices and long wait times, leading to a demand for improved consumer convenience.

The Association for Electric Home Appliances [Chairman: Kimio Maki (President and CEO, Sony Group Corporation)] has signed a cooperation agreement with the Kasumidai Welfare Facility Association [Administrator: Yoji Yajima (Mayor of Ishioka)], which handles joint waste processing for four municipalities in Ibaraki Prefecture (Ishioka City, Omitama City, Kasumigaura City, and Ibaraki Town). The Association will support the Kasumidai Welfare Facility Association in launching a new one-stop service for residents that covers the collection of non-obligatory items, issuance of recycling tickets, and handover to manufacturers.

Previously, the Association restricted the supply of the most convenient 'Retailer Collection Recycling Ticket (Green Ticket)' to retailers only. As a first-of-its-kind initiative in Japan, the Association will now supply these tickets to the Kasumidai Welfare Facility Association. Consequently, residents will no longer need to contact collectors, pay in advance at post offices, or schedule pickups. They will be able to bring their waste appliances directly to the Kasumidai Welfare Facility Association on their preferred day, paying the recycling fee and disposing of related waste simultaneously. By enhancing convenience, the initiative aims to improve resident services and promote a circular economy.

The Association intends to continue promoting similar partnerships with other municipalities to improve consumer convenience for non-obligatory collection items using these Green Tickets.

*1: June 2022, 'Report on the Evaluation and Review of the Implementation Status of the Home Appliance Recycling System' by the Industrial Structure Council and Central Environment Council.

*2: Service scheduled to begin on April 1, 2026.

[Key Agreement Details]

1. The Association for Electric Home Appliances (the Association) will provide necessary advice to the Kasumidai Welfare Facility Association (the Union) regarding home appliance recycling operations.
2. The Association will provide the Union with awareness-raising know-how to the extent possible.
3. The Association will provide the Union with information necessary for stable recycling operations.
4. The Union will actively respond to inquiries and site visits from other municipalities regarding home appliance recycling.
5. The Union will work to raise awareness and improve convenience so that residents can request home appliance recycling with peace of mind.

[Signing Date]

March 26, 2026 (Thursday)