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 Act, four types of waste appliances (air conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines, and televisions) are typically disposed of through retailers. However, a challenge remains regarding 'non-obligatory collection items'—appliances for which the original retailer is unknown, out of business, or located too far away. A national government 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 manages 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, covering 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 Type Home Appliance Recycling Ticket' (known as the 'Green Ticket') primarily to retailers. As a nationwide first, this agreement allows the Kasumidai Welfare Facility Association to utilize these tickets. Consequently, residents will no longer need to contact collection contractors, pay recycling fees at post offices in advance, or schedule collection dates. Instead, they can 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 recycling convenience, the initiative aims to improve resident services and promote a circular economy.

Moving forward, the Association intends to promote similar collaborations with other municipalities to help improve consumer convenience for non-obligatory collection items using the Green Ticket system.

*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.

Main Agreement Details

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

Date of Signing

March 26, 2026 (Thursday)