Waste reduction: A Japanese experience
NAGOYA the city of Toyota, with a population of approximately 2.2 million generated 1.251 kg/person/day of waste (40% organic waste) in 1998, exceeding the average in Japan (1.1 kg). At that time, the entire city generated 1.02 million tonnes of waste, of which 0.28 million tonnes were land filled. It may be mentioned that most of the waste is incinerated in Japan. The city of Nagoya has very limited space suitable for waste landfill, so for years it used a landfill site in Tajimi city, in the neighbouring prefecture (state). Since the city's amount of waste had increased drastically, (by approx. 60 percent between 1980 and 1998), the Tajimi landfill site was expected to last only two more years. Meanwhile, the city of Nagoya had started 20 years ago to study the Fujimae tidal flat as its next landfill site candidate. But eventually due to strong public demands to conserve the Fujimae tidal flat, local mayor decided to cancel the plan in January 1999. Abandonment of landfill site project made a realization to the city government as well as to the people that, if they do not reduce their emission they will lose their precious tideland. This sense of understanding helped the city government to take more substantive future action plan. Well, some might say that a crisis always helps to initiate dramatic action. The following month, the city declared a “Emergency Announcement for Waste Reduction” targeting 20% ( 200,000 tons) reduction of waste by the end of 20th century(in two years). The waste volume in the year 1998 was 1,000,000 tons. Nagoya city achieved its goal of reducing generated waste by 200,000 tonnes in two years. The city's next goal is to reduce generated waste further from 2000 levels by approximately another 20 percent by the year 2010, to a total 0.62 million tonnes(0.750 kg/person/day). The city also aims to drastically cut the amount of waste sent to the landfill, with the ultimate future goal of zero waste sent to landfill. The approach what adopted after emergency announcement is just “waste from household” and asked citizen's “to cooperate”. The key initiatives that have been taken are, promotion of locally based resource collection activities, expansion of collection areas for used bottles and cans, introduction of designated plastic containers and packaging, abolishing the public dust bins in public spaces, increased subsidies for the voluntary collection of recyclables by citizens. They started collection of newly designated recyclables such as paper and plastic containers and packaging and PET bottle at waste collection stations. Before inducting those activities the city government launched the awareness programme to disseminate newly adopted strategies to the people. Circulated the information and illustrated brochure in five languages to the citizens in advance, organized about 2,300 explanatory meetings in the local community(more than 210,000 people participated, representing 24% of households in Nagoya. To sensitize the community publicised the programme by TV, radio and newspapers. Today, Nagoya citizens are required to sort their garbage into 16 categories for municipal garbage collection. Nagoya now has the lowest per capita waste generation, highest per capita recycling and the lowest per capita waste is going to landfill than other big cities in Japan. They remain committed and are keen to do more. New targets have been proposed to reduce waste to around 620,000 tons by 2010, which would put them back at 1976 levels. What is more they want to reduce the amount sent to landfill to as near to zero as possible. Nagoya city has shown how the effort to tackle local environmental issues can lead to the regeneration of a whole community. In order to conserve the Fujimae tidal flat, the city government and citizens started close collaboration. These efforts have also created a wonderful byproduct: new dialogue and deeper bonds in the local community. The writer is Director (Administration), Department of Environment.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments