Japanese
November 14:
Association for Electric Home Appliances Reopens
the Re-designed “Home Appliance Recycling Studio,”
its Permanent Exhibition Booth in ATC, Osaka!
The “Home Appliance Recycling Studio,” located inside Osaka ATC Green Eco Plaza in the Nanko area of Osaka, is Japan’s first permanent exhibition booth dedicated to home appliance recycling, set up by the Association for Electric Home Appliances in 2022. The Studio has been re-designed as an exhibition booth to enable more people, especially the younger generations, to know and learn about the Home Appliance Recycling Law in a fun and systematic manner.
Purpose of the redesign
This year, the 24th year since the Home Appliance Recycling Law was enforced in April 2001 and recycling of the four specified appliances* became a legal requirement, the Association for Electric Home Appliances conducted an awareness survey on recycling, the results for which showed that the younger generations knew less about the Home Appliance Recycling Law and how to properly discard used/waste appliances.
*Air conditioners, TVs, refrigerators/freezers, and washing machines/clothes dryers
Home Appliance Recycling Awareness Survey Results
*Results of an online survey conducted in 2024 by the Association for Electric Home Appliances (N=555 respondents)
Given such background, the Home Appliance Recycling Studio, frequently visited by various schools and groups, redesigned the contents of its exhibition with an aim to have visitors in their teens and 20s know about the Home Appliance Recycling Law itself as well as the significance of the law. The exhibition has been renewed to offer a fun and systematic learning experience such as “What is the Home Appliance Recycling Law?” and “How is recycling actually done?”.
Details of the redesign
Visitors can see, touch, and have a hands-on experience not only through video contents played on a large-screen monitor but also through displays of actual appliances that have been cut to show the cross section for visitors to see the structure, as well as actual samples of how recovered materials are recycled and what kind of product they become after being recycled.
Know the four home appliances subject to recycling
Model appliances cut to show the cross section are displayed to enable visitors to see the inside structure of the appliances. Also, a large-screen monitor playing a video about where waste appliances go after they end their useful lives is set. These displays would serve as topics for conversations among the visitors themselves, helping them learn about home appliance recycling and remember the four home appliances subject to recycling.
Learn about efforts and initiatives by home appliance recycling plants
Visitors can have a simulated experience of a recycling plant tour by watching various videos of recycling plants shown in a large-screen monitor. In addition, a simulation game is available for visitors to experience dismantling and sorting an air conditioner outdoor unit. These activities are designed to foster the visitors’ interest toward a recycling-oriented society.
The re-designed Home Appliance Recycling Studio bustling with young visitors
Home Appliance Recycling Studio exhibition contents
Home Appliance Recycling Studio
- 1. Don’t forget these 4!
- 2. Let’s take a look at recycling technologies!
- 3. New lives of recycled materials
Actual models of the four appliances subject to recycling that have been cut to show the cross section enable visitors to learn and deepen their understanding by seeing what kind of components and materials are used in the appliance.
Videos of various recycling processes are played on the large-screen monitor by pressing the buttons on the control panel.
• Visitors can learn how materials recovered from recycling are reborn and used in home appliances again.
• A robot simulation game is available for visitors to experience dismantling and sorting an air conditioner outdoor unit.
Facility outline
ATC (venue of the permanent exhibition)
- Address:
2-1-10 Nankokita, Suminoe-ku, Osaka - Access:
Direct access from “Trade Center-mae” station,
Osaka Metro Nanko Port Town Line (New Tram)
- 11th floor, Osaka ATC Green Eco PlazaThe first permanent exhibition hall of its kind in Japan, established with the purpose of widely communicating to the general public the latest information from companies/organizations engaged with environmental businesses and management.
