Tokyo 2020 Olympics Will Make Medals From Recycled Gadgets

If you’ve ever been to Japan, then you know that the country is famous for its recycling efforts, to the point where a bottle isn’t just a bottle, but it can be further separated by its plastic wrapper, its bottle cap, and the body of the bottle itself. This is why it doesn’t come as a surprise to learn that their attitude towards recycling is being applied to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

According to a report from The Japan Times (via Pocket-lint), it seems that the organizers of the Olympics have decided that they will be forging both the Olympic and Paralympic medals for the Tokyo 2020 Games from recycled mobile phones along with other small appliances where they are hoping to gather enough material to make the medals with.

They are aiming for two tonnes of gold, silver, and bronze. If you’re wondering why this sounds familiar, it is because the idea was actually proposed last year but it seems like the plans have been finalized. There will be collection boxes put out at local offices and telecoms stores starting from April and they will be put out until enough metal has been collected.

This is actually not the first time that medals are made from recycled materials. Back in 2010, the Olympic Games in Vancouver made their medals from recycled circuit boards, although the Tokyo Games will be the first to make every gold medal from recycled materials.

Tyler Lee
Categories: Cellphones, Green
Tags: Japan