Nonprofit Recycles Dentures to Benefit Underprivileged Children

The Japan Denture Recycling Association, a nonprofit organization established in December 2006, has been contributing the proceeds from recycling used dentures to the Japan Committee for the United Nations Children's Fund to support underprivileged children in the world. They collect used dentures to raise money for donations by selling the precious metals refined out of them.

The association focuses on dentures containing precious metals, the recovery of which requires tremendous energy when first extracted from ores. It collects a large number of dentures, crowns, inlays, and bridges, and then sends them to a recycling company in bulk, since it is costly to extract precious metals from individual pieces.

It accepts used dentures by mail, and asks local governments and dentists to place collection boxes in their offices. In cooperation with a metal refining company, the association promotes the donation of dentures by giving presentations nationwide, contributing part of revenues to welfare organizations in neighborhoods of cooperating local governments, and sending letters of appreciation to dentists who support the movement. It also publicizes the location of collection boxes to encourage participation.

In 2007 the association donated 13,063,908 yen (about U.S.$124,000) to the Japan Committee for UNICEF. As of April 14, 2008, there were collection boxes at 178 locations in 23 prefectures, and cooperation with the association's activity is expected to further expand in the country.



Posted: 2008/08/24 04:25:20 PM