A recovery assistance system that uses a plurality of recovery terminal devices installed in a plurality of locations to assist in the recovery of an article, wherein each of the plurality of recovery terminal devices is provided with a reading unit for reading, from a tag in the form of a sticker or sheet, identification information identifying the tag. On the basis of the identification information read from a tag attached to an article, a notification about detection of the article is issued to a sales provider, manufacturer, rental provider, or transport provider of the article corresponding to the identification information.