Itakura Town partners with PASSTO to expand textile resource circulation

Itakura Town in Gunma Prefecture has launched a new resource circulation initiative in partnership with the PASSTO service to promote the reuse and recycling of unwanted clothing. The town has installed PASSTO collection boxes at five public locations, including the town hall and community centres. This collaboration aims to establish a convenient infrastructure for residents to recycle clothes, diverting textiles from waste streams.

The physical collection points are situated at Itakura Town Hall, the Central Community Centre, Southern Community Centre, Eastern Community Centre, and Northern Community Centre. Residents can drop off various garments such as children’s clothes, tops, bottoms, jackets, and coats. Items collected through these boxes are transported to a dedicated circulation centre for meticulous sorting. From there, goods are redistributed for reuse both within Japan and overseas, while items unsuitable for reuse are processed by recycling partners to recover raw materials.

In addition to the physical drop-off points, the town is promoting the Home Pickup PASSTO service to enhance accessibility for residents. This digital service allows individuals to arrange for the collection of unwanted items directly from their homes using the LINE messaging app. Users can hand over up to five boxes of items per request at no cost. This service specifically targets the barriers to recycling by providing a transition from household clutter to resource recovery without requiring citizens to travel to a collection site.

The name PASSTO is derived from the phrase “pass to,” representing the act of handing items to the next person and connecting them to the future. The service reports a reuse and recycling rate of approximately 98% for the clothing it handles.  This systematic approach ensures that resources remain in use for as long as possible, aligning with circular goals in the country.