March 25, 2026 – Tokyo, Kyoto, and Waltham – Recycling Milestone Achieved
The joint PIR sensor recycling program launched in March 2025 by Panasonic, Murata, and Excelitas has reached a significant milestone, recovering over 10 million end-of-life sensors in its first year of operation.
The program, which accepts PIR sensors from manufacturers, security installers, and consumers, has diverted approximately 50 tons of electronic waste from landfills and recovered valuable materials including lithium tantalate, gold, and silver.
Recovery Results (March 2025 – March 2026)
- Sensors recovered: 10.2 million units
- Weight diverted from landfill: 52 tons
- Lithium tantalate recovered: 480 kg (can be reprocessed into new sensors)
- Gold and silver recovered: 45 kg
- Plastics recovered: 18 tons
- Overall material recovery rate: 82%
How the Program Works
The recycling program operates through three channels:
Consumer Drop-Off
Consumers can drop off old PIR sensors at participating electronics retailers (Best Buy, Micro Center, and regional chains) or request a free mail-in kit from manufacturer websites. Over 2,000 retail locations now accept sensors.
Business Collection
Security installers and building managers can request bulk collection bins for large-scale replacements. Major security companies including ADT and Vivint participate in the program, collecting sensors from system upgrades.
Manufacturer Returns
Manufacturers can return production scrap and defective units directly to the recycling facility. This stream has recovered significant quantities of lithium tantalate from manufacturing waste.
Recycling Process
Recovered sensors are processed at a specialized facility in Japan:
- Sorting: Sensors are sorted by type and manufacturer
- Dismantling: Automated equipment removes plastic housings and lenses
- Pyroelectric element extraction: Lithium tantalate elements are removed and purified
- Metal recovery: Gold bonding wires and silver electrodes are extracted
- Plastic recycling: Lenses and housings are ground and reprocessed
The recovered lithium tantalate can be directly reprocessed into new pyroelectric elements, creating a closed-loop material cycle.
Environmental Impact
According to an independent lifecycle assessment, the program has:
- Avoided 120 tons of CO2 emissions (equivalent to 250 passenger vehicles per year)
- Reduced lithium tantalate mining requirements by 500 kg
- Diverted 18 tons of plastic from landfills
- Recovered precious metals equivalent to 2,000 smartphones
Expansion Plans
The program founders announced expansion plans for 2026-2027:
- New facilities: Regional processing centers in Europe (Netherlands) and North America (Texas) opening Q4 2026
- Additional partners: Discussions underway with Chinese manufacturers to join the program
- Consumer incentives: $5 discount on new sensors when recycling old ones (starting June 2026)
- Automotive expansion: Program to accept automotive PIR sensors from vehicle dismantlers starting 2027
Manufacturer Statements
“We’re thrilled with the success of the program in its first year,” said a Panasonic representative. “Ten million sensors recovered is just the beginning. Our goal is to recycle 50% of end-of-life sensors by 2030.”
“The program demonstrates that sensor manufacturers can work together to address environmental challenges,” said a Murata representative. “We invite other manufacturers to join us in this effort.”
“Closing the loop on lithium tantalate is particularly important,” said an Excelitas representative. “This material is critical for sensor performance, and recycling reduces our dependence on mining.”
Consumer Participation
Consumers can participate by:
- Visiting participating retailers to drop off old sensors
- Requesting a free mail-in kit at recycle.pirsensor.org
- Selecting the recycling option when purchasing new sensors online
The program accepts all PIR sensors regardless of brand, including sensors from non-participating manufacturers.
Conclusion
The industry-wide PIR sensor recycling program has exceeded its first-year targets, demonstrating that collaborative approaches to electronic waste can be effective. As the program expands, it will play an increasingly important role in reducing the environmental impact of PIR sensors.