Process 3. Local Recycling

The above two recycling process options both rely on hardware. However, this process encourages community level (including residential and commercial) recycling by consumers. This approach does not consider disassembling and sorting as full-time work. By consigning the disassembling and sorting process to consumers, the copper collection industry will not require large amounts of labor as is necessary for options (1) and (2). Finalizing scrap before the smelting process is a major function for the copper collection process within this process. According to the Ministry of Environment of Japan, copper accounts for 7% of end-of-life household electronic appliance materials after removing plastic and ferrous metals [33]. For this process, instead of hiring workers, the copper collection industry will provide incentives to consumers who separate their end-of-life products prior to recycling. Labor used for disassembling is not considered in the same way as options (1) and (2), but as a voluntary practice. Labor within this process only includes the workers in the copper finalizing processes. As we assume rapid aging in Japan, the retiring generations will likely play an important role in this proposed process. In addition, consumer driven recycling may provide non-traditional employment opportunities for those wishing to continue working past the retirement age. Table 5 illustrates a comparison among the three proposed mitigatory processes and the recycling of copper through traditional channels in Japan when 1 unit of final demand increase.



Comparing these three process, we observe the existence of an energy-emissions-labor trade-o ff. Process 1 increase energy, however it is able to produce comparable amounts of copper with a relatively small labor force. Process 2 increase energy consumption and the estimated labor requirement the most, it may be impossible to realize under Japan's current demographic restrictions, i.e. an aging, shrinking society. Process 3 seems to be the ideal process approach with a moderate energy and emissions

contribution and the smallest labor (actually hired) requirements of the three proposed approaches. Process 3 is unlikely to be realized unless consumers are willing to cooperate, as separating and sorting processes are dependent on consumers under this process. Note that CO2 emissions in each process is less than 1 kg.
