Zenbird Editorial TeamHome improvement retailer CAINZ has partnered with the Nagoya City to launch a resource circulation programme, starting with a collection and circular service for used household gardening soil.
The collaboration begins with a horizontal recycling system for gardening soil at the CAINZ Nagoya Horita store. Residents can bring unwanted soil from their gardens and plant pots to a dedicated collection station at the store. The collected soil is then sent to a partner manufacturer for processing, which includes baking and sterilisation. The regenerated material is subsequently packaged and sold in CAINZ stores as a recycled potting mix.
The soil recycling programme first launched in 2023 in partnership with Kameoka City, Kyoto Prefecture, and has since expanded to seven stores across Japan. And it has proven effective in addressing a common waste disposal issue for residents. As of July 2025, CAINZ has collected approximately 200 tonnes of soil from around 2,100 users. Local authorities in participating areas have reported a decrease in public inquiries regarding soil disposal. The system’s success has been recognised with a special award from the Ministry of the Environment’s Good Life Award committee in 2024 and a Good Design Award in 2025.
Under the agreement with Nagoya, CAINZ will manage the collection and recycling logistics, while the City of Nagoya will support the programme through public awareness campaigns on its official website and by handling citizen inquiries. The service in Nagoya will run as a trial until June 30, 2026, after which its full-scale implementation will be considered.
CAINZ intends to continue working with local governments and manufacturers, positioning its stores as “circular hubs” for gardening soil in the community.
[Reference] CAINZ News Release (Japanese)
