Horizontal recycling is a form of recycling where products at the end of their lifecycle are used as material in the creation of similar products. The Nonferrous Metals Division horizontally recycles aluminum for use in automobiles. Specifically, they collect aluminum scrap from Japanese automobile manufacturers and sort if by material and grade. A car hood, for example, would be classified as recyclable materials for hoods. Next, the hood would be processed into high-quality aluminum ingots by degree of purity and sold to rolling mills. In addition to resource recycling, this horizontal aluminum recycling process both lowers industrial waste disposal costs for automobile manufacturers and procurement costs for rolling mills.

Resource recycling through horizontal aluminum recycling reduces industrial waste. Circulating resources in this way aids in the transition from a traditional linear economy (an economy that only works in one direction for mass production, mass consumption, and mass disposal) to a circular economy (an economy that tries to use resources efficiently and circularly at every step to maximize added value*). The Nonferrous Metals Division plans to expand its nonferrous recycling capabilities to help create a circular economy. They are seeking out value added businesses that will contribute to the environment.
* From the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry May, 2020 Circular Economy Vision 2020 (Overview)