Analysis of Discontinuation, Recovery, and Sustainable Management Factors for a University Recycle Market

“Recycle markets” have been carried out at many universities, but due to the large number of prevention factors that continue to exist, the markets have been discontinued. The recycle market at Hiroshima University was stopped in 2000. After analyzing past data, results showed that the continuation of recycle markets were not feasible due to human conditions, such as staff numbers being insufficient; this was due to an increase in “physical exhaustion” and “mental stress” with a decrease in the “feeling of satisfaction and achievement.” Three main problems had to be tackled in order to change the situation, so a campaign was developed in order to: 1) Recruit a robust volunteer staff; 2) Welcome and manage visitors; and 3) Create a new purpose by showing that participation is a positive contribution, and the recycle market at Hiroshima University was restarted in 2001. Sustainable management of the recycle market was possible when these three factors were taken into consideration and tackled. The new-spirited Hiroshima University example can definitely be followed in order to continue markets at other universities too.