|
|
 |
 Murata is committed to recycling wastes generated at its offices and plants. In fiscal 2003, we achieved our zero emissions target* at our 21 plants and subsidiaries in Japan. Now that we've achieved our zero emissions targets, our next step is to reduce waste generation itself. To initiate that effort, Murata established the Resource Conservation & Waste Reduction Subcommittee in fiscal 2004.
Under the Subcommittee, we also organized workshops that respectively work on the themes of reducing waste fluids, waste plastics and waste ceramics. All these types of waste are produced in large quantities, so have room for reduction.
In fiscal 2005, the amount of waste generated in our offices, plants and subsidiaries in Japan totaled 28,075 metric tons, an approximately 7,200 metric ton decrease from fiscal 2000. In terms of waste materials generated per unit of net production, this is a decrease of about 30%.
As regards the material recycling rate, in fiscal 2005 we improved the rate to 99.98% by changing the disposal method of waste formerly handled by thermal recycling.
* Murata's definition of zero emissions:Defined as zero direct landfilling of waste as well as zero landfilling of waste matter remaining after intermediate treatment (i.e., 100% recycling rate). However, Murata's zero emissions and recycling rate targets exclude waste matter that the Company is unable to process on its own, such as excess sludge in remediation tanks. |
Of all the types of wastes generated at Murata, waste fluids and waste plastics are particularly large in quantity, comprising approximately 70%. Therefore, our efforts to reduce waste generation focus particularly on these types of wastes.
In fiscal 2005, our Yasu Plant worked to reduce waste fluids, successfully reducing them by about 120 metric tons/month.
Moreover, Fukui Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. and Izumo Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. installed additional peeling processors to recycle film adhering to ceramic waste produced during the manufacturing process. This enabled us to recycle annually about more than 1,200 tons of PET film into raw material for making chemical fibers and other products. |
Evaporator of
concentrator for alkaline
and acid waste liquids |
To promote waste reduction and improve recycling levels, Murata regularly organizes meetings among staff in charge of waste management in respective plants, offices and subsidiaries. At these meetings, participating members exchange views, share information and conduct other activities noted below:
- Inspections of waste management carried out at each plant, office and subsidiary
- Presentations and information sharing on cases of waste reduction
- Exchange of views among staff in charge of waste management
- Lectures on the latest in waste management by experts invited from outside the Company
|
Meeting to discuss waste
reduction (Sabae Murata
Manufacturing Co., Ltd.) |
| In focusing our attention on plants and processes that consume large amounts of water, we are promoting the cyclic use of groundwater by various means. For example, we reuse cooling water for vacuum pumps by re-cooling it with heat exchangers. Consequently, in fiscal 2005 the amount of water consumed at our offices, plants and subsidiaries in Japan was 7.96 million m3, a reduction of 1.17 million m3 from fiscal 2000. |
 |
|
