Ashton Eaton says the prospect of winning an Olympic medal in Tokyo which could be made from a recycled mobile phone is enough to make him want to come out of retirement.

The Tokyo 2020 organising committee on Wednesday invited the people of Japan to hand over their old electronic devices to be used for metal in the production of medals for athletes at the Olympic and Paralympic Games in three years' time.

The aim is to collect eight tons of metal – 40 kilogrammes of gold, 4920kg silver and 2944 kg bronze – to produce 5,000 medals for the athletes who earn a place on the podium.

Two-time Olympic champion Eaton ended his illustrious decathlon career last month, but the American world record holder is so impressed with the Tokyo organisers' plans for producing medals he wants one of his own.

The 29-year-old said: "An Olympic medal is one of the most coveted items in existence. People spend decades, often agonising ones, working to obtain one. The life stories of so many are defined by the pursuit of these metal medallions, and those same stories are what inspire and bring millions of us together.

"And now, thanks to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Medal Project not only do the athletes inspire with their stories, but each medal itself has a story of its own.

"The best part is that each citizen has a chance to contribute to the story, to raise awareness about a sustainable future and to make a unique contribution. And, most excitingly, they have a chance to be part of the Olympic journey.

"The weight of a medal around your neck is always a good weight. And when an athlete at Tokyo wins a medal, the weight of it will not be from the gold, silver, or bronze; it will be the weight of a nation.

"The awesomeness of this project makes me want to come out of retirement and compete for one.

"I have always been a fan of people who do things differently; of those who try to move the needle in a positive way. I am a fan of Tokyo 2020."