Toho Zinc, GS Yuasa to Collect Waste Battery in Tianjin

Lead recycling joint venture in Tianjin by Toho Zinc and GS Yuasa Group will establish waste battery collecting company as early as in June. With support by Tianjin city, the firm will collect waste battery in the city. The Chinese first state of the art recycling plant will start production of lead alloy at 1,000 tonnes per month in July. The joint venture establishes the wholly owned subsidiary collecting firm with 300,000 yuan of capital. Tianjin city will submit guidance for around 60 of battery agents and scrap processors in late June to ship all waste battery for the new collecting firm. The city tries to prevent the battery from flowing out of the city and secure stable supply. The city invited the lead recycling plant completed in 2005 to improve environmental action. Chinese authority expects the Chinese first plant with environmental control standard will contribute the better environment. The collecting firm purchases waste battery at more than double price of Japanese domestic market under Chinese tight supply and surging international market. The firm expects the price will decrease when local authority controls illegal dealers strictly and directs the distribution to legal route.