Built between September 2002 and March 2004, and covering an area of 14,000m², the Kobe City Resources Recycle Center embodies the city’s commitment to being a recycle-based society. The plant receives all of the cans, glass bottles and PET plastic bottles collected weekly as ‘recyclable refuse’ from all households in Kobe. Collected refuse bags containing these recyclables are transported to the Center, where they are separated into steel cans, aluminum cans, glass bottles (further classified into three color groups: clear, brown and others), and PET bottles. These separated materials are then pressed and processed, to be resources for future use. 

The plant uses machinery to remove refuse bags and aluminum and magnetic separators for cans, weight separator for plastic bottles and then automatic color sensors for glass bottles. Various measures to make the center environmentally friendly include the use of a photovoltaic (PV) generator (50kW) and wind power generator (5.5kW); rainwater for toilet flushing, garden watering, etc.; rooftop gardening; natural light and ventilation; energy-saving equipment; and the use of recycled materials (e.g., tiles and pavement materials made from waste glass, furniture made from hardened recycled paper). The Center also harmonizes with its surrounding landscape of green mountains. To prevent noise, vibration and odor problems, equipment is housed indoors and deodorizers are installed. Mentally handicapped citizens are hired as attendants for the foreign matter removal and fine separating conveyors, and dust collectors and spot air-conditioning systems provide a comfortable work environment.

AUICK Workshop participants see the practical learning facilities of the Environmental Future Pavilion

Part of the same building complex, the Environmental Future Pavilion is an environmental educational facility to raise citizens’ awareness by disseminating information on global warming prevention, waste reduction and recycling. It is attached to the city’s main recycling center and is open six days a week, arranging child-friendly exhibits and informative activities.

Volunteers act as guides and also maintain the running of both the Recycle Resources Center and the Environment Future Pavilion, which received 15,000 visitors from 54 schools and 176 different organizations in 2008, conducting 27 educational courses. Parents also join monthly classes to learn about resource and environmental protection and bio-diversity, even working together to maintain a biotope. As the pavilion is located in the natural habitat outside of the city center, it is close to rivers and mountains for a natural learning habitat.

The Crane Control Room and Central Control Room of the Resources Recycle Center