I recently cleared out a too-long neglected drawer of small electronics. Almost all of them were dead or long past their last upgrade cycle. I have been putting off this decluttering because recycling electronics is a troublesome process. There’s no central system, despite various recycling laws coming into effect in the last decade.
So for your assistance and my future starting point, here are some useful links and services. They are all in Japanese.
- Computer recycling is handled by PC3R for all manufacturers, except Apple https://www.pc3r.jp/
- Apple Japan will pick up your old Apple products for free. Register here: https://kc-pcrecycle-household.jp/home/jsp/pc_recycle_05.jsp
- Tsutaya buys old phones and tablets (not all makers) and will pick up for free: https://tsutayamb.com/
- Softbank, DoCoMo and other telecom retailers collect old smartphones, SIM cards, and chargers at their stores. You can drop off devices from any maker or carrier as part of the industry-wide Mobile Recycle Network https://www.mobile-recycle.net/
- Other small electronics and household appliances are handled at home appliance retail stores. Some items are free to recycle; others have a fee. This page from K’s Denki lays it out neatly: https://www.ksdenki.co.jp/kshd/pages/csr_environment_02.aspx
Some cities, though not mine, have collection points for e-waste. And many electronic stores and even some supermarkets have collection boxes for batteries, so check around in the physical locations that are convenient to you.
