A possibility of urban mining in Japan

Abstract

A potential amount of urban mining in Japan is estimated. The potential amount includes the amount of in-use stock, used stock and dissipated stock in Japan. The accumulation is estimated by considering the balance between import and export beyond the boundary of Japan after the World War II. The amount of material which was exported as parts of products is estimated by In- put/Output Table Analysis with an assumption that material flow is in proportion to cash flow. A considerable amount of metal was estimated to be accumulated in Japan. The accumulation amount of gold and silver is 6,800 tons and 60,000 tons respectively. They are greater than the reserves of richest resource-possessing country, South Africa for gold and Poland for silver. The accumulated amount of Al, Sb, Cr, Co, Cu, In, Fe, Pb, Li, Mo, Ni, Ta, Sn, V, W, Zn, Platinum group metals and rare earth group were also calculated. © 2009 The Japan Institute of Metals.