Mitsubishi Research Institute verifies local circulation models for METI

Mitsubishi Research Institute completed a demonstration project commissioned by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry to establish resource circulation systems across wide municipalities, verifying resource circulation models tailored to the specific characteristics of metropolitan areas, regional cities, and small communities.

The transition to a circular economy is accelerating globally to address resource constraints and environmental challenges. In Japan, expanding the use of recycled materials and building regional circulation systems are ongoing priorities. The government promotes policies to secure stable supplies of recycled materials, prompting the need for enhanced sorting, collection, and recycling frameworks.

The project verified technical and economic feasibilities between September 2025 and February 2026. For metropolitan areas, the institute tested chemical recycling for industrial plastics and material recycling for household PET trays. Results confirmed the necessity of selecting suitable recycling methods for each emission source while building an integrated system that includes proper sorting and pre-treatment technologies.

In regional cities, the study explored recycling chains using advanced sorting facilities. The institute determined that processing volumes must match regional capacities to ensure a steady supply of recycled materials. For smaller municipalities with limited waste volumes, the project verified a model combining precise resident sorting with wide collection. The findings proved that consolidating resources across multiple local governments leverages scale and streamlines the entire recycling process.

Going forward, Mitsubishi Research Institute plans to implement these tailored models in society. It will continue examining the optimal combinations of material and chemical recycling to ensure long-term viability.