Press Information

Residential Air Conditioner Recycling Fee to be Revised

No.1624
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Tokyo, February 13, 2013 - Effective April 1, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Air-Conditioning & Thermal Systems Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI), will lower the fee charged for recycling the company's residential air conditioners by 525 yen (approx. US$5.60). The recycling fee applied to home air conditioners is one of a number of charges levied in Japan in order to recycle specified types of discarded home appliances, based on the country's Home Appliance Recycling Law.

Currently, the fee imposed for recycling home air conditioners is 2,100 yen (approx. US$22.40). Commencing April 1, the new fee will be 1,575 yen (approx. US$16.80).

Japan's Home Appliance Recycling Law was instituted on April 1, 2001 as a measure to promote the recycling of reusable parts and materials of appliances discarded from home and office environments as a means of reducing the volume of such waste and to promote reutilization of resources. Appliances to which the law applies include air conditioners, televisions, refrigerators, freezers and washing machines.

The recycling fee levied against MHI's residential air conditioners has already been revised on three previous occasions: in April 2007, November 2008 and April 2011. The decision to lower the fee effective this April 1 was rendered based on projections of improvement in the bottom line from the company's home air conditioners. The anticipated improvement reflects higher prices for recycled resources against the backdrop of robust market prices, coupled with success in reducing recycling and related costs.

Earlier MHI drew up a "Basic Policy on Environmental Matters" targeted at enabling the development of a sustainable society, and in line with this policy the company has consistently sought to ease environmental burdens in all areas of its business activities. Going forward, the company will continue to apply its full complement of technological capabilities and provide society with environmentally friendly products and technologies at appropriate cost as its way of contributing to the creation of an affluent society in which environmental, social and economic demands co-exist harmonically.

For further information on this matter, customers should address inquiries to:

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Air-Conditioning & Thermal Systems Corporation
Sales Planning Dept.  Tel: +813-5745-7706


About MHI Group

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group is one of the world’s leading industrial groups, spanning energy, smart infrastructure, industrial machinery, aerospace and defense. MHI Group combines cutting-edge technology with deep experience to deliver innovative, integrated solutions that help to realize a carbon neutral world, improve the quality of life and ensure a safer world. For more information, please visit www.mhi.com or follow our insights and stories on spectra.mhi.com.