Disassemble cars and extract natural resources. If we can turn it into a successful business, we could become a resource-rich nation. by Nada 20231108

Hello. This is Nada from Seito Medical School. This time, it's about surplus resources. When you think of natural resources, you probably think of manufacturing materials that come from coal mines, such as ores and rare earths. I think there are many different kinds of resources, but I think natural resources are an important element that is essential for manufacturing. When most people think of rare metals, they probably think of new metals extracted from mines and used as materials for cars and other products.

Here's what I want to say. The question is whether the natural resources really need to be new. If you think about it, there are a variety of second-hand items, from books to games to clothes. However, I have never heard of second-hand products made from natural resources. Of course, recycling aluminum and steel cans is a natural resource for second-hand goods, but... Even if it is a natural resource, if something made from it is thrown away, it becomes garbage that cannot be decomposed naturally. Previously, there was a problem with large amounts of plastic straws being thrown into the ocean, but it takes a lot of effort to dispose of even one car. However, the amount of natural resources that can be extracted from a single car is by no means small.

Cars are exported from wealthy countries to less wealthy countries as used cars, but I don't think many people know what happens to those used cars at the end. I am one of them and don't know what will happen in the end. Therefore, there is a need for a business that specializes in dismantling used cars with specialized equipment. I've heard of the used car dismantling business, so exported used cars may end up being dismantled somewhere. Therefore, if there were a company that specialized in dismantling used cars and extracting natural resources, Japan could become a resource powerhouse even if there were no mines in the country to mine new natural resources.

I think it will be important in the future to be able to recycle resources. The recycling situation itself will have an impact on the global environment for centuries to come. It can be said that this is a very important social issue.