Bureau of Environment

What you should know about rare metals

On December 27, the Rare Metals Emergency Recovery Project Recovery Special Month Event “Give it a try! Rare metals discover challenge! PC and game console dismantling experience session” was held at Hikarigaoka IMA (Nerima City). Amid global concerns about a shortage of rare metals, the TMG is working on the Rare Metals Emergency Recovery Project to promote the collection and recycling of small home appliances such as PCs. The purpose of this event is to encourage elementary school students and their families to take action to recycle rare metals by coming into direct contact with them.
Five groups of 10 people with parents and children gathered at the venue, heard about rare metals, observed a computer dismantling show, and experienced a workshop to dismantle game consoles.
When game consoles were unscrewed and the circuit boards were revealed, the children cheered with amazement.
The mother who participated with her child in the fifth grade of elementary school from Nishi-tokyo City, said, “I became interested in rare metals when I heard that wild gorillas are being driven to extinction because of them. I participated in this event because I also wanted my child to become interested.”

A child answers questions about rare metals.

A show about dismantling a computer. To the left is the host WoW Kitsunezaru.

A child enjoys dismantling a game console and says, “I love using a screwdriver.”