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Challenges of TEPCO

  1. Energy & Resources
  2. Environment & Community

Initiatives for industrial waste recycling

The TEPCO Group is making active efforts to attain a 100% recycling rate of industrial waste, with the aim of minimizing the environmental load of its business activities. We are also striving to create a recycling society by pursuing various eco-conscious business activities by Group companies.

Achievements of TEPCO's recycling initiatives

In FY2001, we established the target of "achieving 100% recycling rate of industrial waste by FY2005," and practically achieved this target through Company-wide efforts. We came close to achieving this 100% target again in FY2009, as a result of continued efforts.

Industrial waste recycling rate* (TEPCO)

Breakdown of major industrial waste (TEPCO, FY2009) Unit: kt/year

Type of waste Amount produced*1 Use after recycling
Coal ash 475.2 Raw material for cement, land reclamation, etc.
Scrapped concrete utility poles 109.7 Roadbed material, etc.
Desulfurized gypsum 90.7 Gypsum boards, cement raw material, etc.
Metal scraps 57.9 Metal materials, recycled cables, etc.
Waste oil 8.2 Fuel substitute, heat recovery, etc.
Shells 7.5 Fertilizer, raw material for cement, soil amendment, etc.
Sludge from wastewater treatment 5.0 Raw material for cement, steel, etc.
Insulator scraps 3.3 Blocks, roadbed material, etc.
Heavy/crude oil ash 2.6 Metal recovery, raw material for cement
Waste plastics 1.3 Plastic recycling, heat recovery, etc.
Concrete fragments 1.1 Roadbed material, etc.
Thermal insulation scraps 0.4 Recycled thermal insulation, raw material for cement, etc.
Other 11.0 -
Total 774.0 Recycling volume 773.0
Waste sent to landfill 1.2
(Recycling rate 99.9%)
  • *1 Amount of waste produced = Salvaged materials + materials reused in-house + industrial waste
    Radioactive waste is not included in industrial waste, as it is separately governed by nuclear power laws and regulations.
  • *2 Weight after dewatering

(Note) Figures have been rounded to the nearest tenth.

Recycling initiatives by TEPCO Group companies

TEPCO Group companies have established a target of achieving a 100% industrial waste recycling rate by FY2010, and are implementing recycling policies. The Group Environmental Committee supports each Group company's efforts to increase recycling rate, as appropriate to their respective businesses.

In FY2009, 9 companies achieved a recycling rate close to 100%, and 7 a recycling rate higher than 95%.

Promotion of recycling businesses by Group companies

Members of the TEPCO Group exploit their business expertise to launch diverse recycling projects.

  • Sewage sludge recycling

Tokyo Electric Power Environmental Engineering Co., Inc., a member of the TEPCO Group, manufactures non-fired brick blocks made partly from sewage sludge incineration ash. In addition to incineration ash, these bricks also contain quarry dirt and molten slag, and are made almost 80% of recycled materials.

The bricks also offer outstanding water permeability and water retention, and can help mitigate floods and the heat island effect. Furthermore, the production process of non-fired bricks emits less CO2 compared to the production of fired bricks that consume fossil fuel.

Pavement made of non-fired bricks

Tokyo Electric Power Environmental Engineering Co., Inc.: www.tee-kk.co.jp (Japanese only)

  • Waste power generation

TOKYO WATERFRONT RECYCLE POWER CO., LTD., a TEPCO Group company, operates the recycling facility "Super Eco Plant" for industrial and medical waste. Metals, aluminum, slags, and other by-products of the recycling process are recovered, and waste heat is used to generate power. It emits less CO2 compared to simple combustion facilities.

"Super Eco Plant"

TOKYO WATERFRONT RECYCLE POWER CO., LTD.: www.tgn.or.jp/tokyorp (Japanese only)




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