Government authorities on Friday searched two electronics retail outlets in Fukuoka over their suspected sales of thousands of used home appliances that had been collected for recycling.
Officials of the Environment Ministry and the Kyushu Bureau of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said they searched the Tenjin branch of Bic Camera Co. and the Hakata branch of Yodobashi Camera Co. the same day.
The two retailers and other sources said Thursday that a transport company in Dazaifu, Fukuoka Prefecture, delivered the appliances to a Fukuoka-based exporter, possibly in violation of the Home Appliance Recycling Law.
Under the law, implemented in August 2001, retailers that accept used appliances for recycling must put recycling tags on them and collect from owners a 2,500 yen to 5,000 yen per-item recycling charge.
Environment Minister Yuriko Koike told a regular news conference that, based on the findings of the investigation, her ministry might conduct nationwide inspections to see whether similar activities were taking place at other retailers.