Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. said Monday it and Shimadzu Corp. have jointly developed a high-accuracy plastics identification device to enable easier recycling of parts in household appliances.

Matsushita will start using plastic components incorporating recycled plastic identified with the device in new TV sets this month, it said.

The technology involves pressing sections of used plastic parts against a Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer that quickly identifies various types of plastics as well as fire retardants used in them.

The device can identify a large selection of plastics as well as the degree of sample contamination even in cases where the plastic is painted or black, it said.

"These abilities ensure that the plastic used in recycling is of high quality and helps greatly in reducing recycling costs," Matsushita said in a statement, adding it Matsushita will start selling the device in fiscal 2002.