Experience sustainable living at Zero-waste Center WHY in Kamikatsu

The town of Kamikatsu is located in Tokushima prefecture, in the island of Shikoku. Kamikatsu has become famous worldwide for the town’s declaration to aim zero-waste by 2020. As the world is gradually moving toward a circular economy, where repeated use of resource and minimizing waste generation is imperative, Kamikatsu’s initiative to achieve zero-waste generation is attracting the world’s attention.

The population of Kamikatsu is 1509, residing in 759 households. The citizens sort every waste they generate into 45 categories to be recycled or reused. Food waste is processed by each household with a small home-composting system that most households are equipped with. And because people process their organic waste at home, there is no need to incinerate municipal solid waste that can be composted. The recycling rate of household waste in Kamikatsu has reached 90%. In addition, items that can be reused are brought to a recycling store within the town and are given out to other residents for free.

Kamikatsu’s next development: Zero-waste center WHY

Transit General Office Inc., a company based in Tokyo, will start a new business in this zero-waste town called ‘Zero-waste center WHY’. It will open in April 2020. This institution will consist of five facilities: Waste Station, where residents discard sorted waste; Kuru Kuru Shop, where reusable items are displayed and given out for free; a Zero-waste action Hotel; Seminar room which can hold environmental study meetings; and ‘Lab’ for businesses and educational institutions that have interest in zero-waste initiatives.

The facilities will be built with wooden fittings and discarded furniture in the town. It aims to show the town’s initiative on zero-waste and allows visitors to experience the waste management scheme. The hotel will provide the beautiful nature scenery of Kamikatsu to guests as well as to offer an opportunity to learn about the environment. The hotel also plans to increase field activities like fly fishing, lake exploring by kayak and trail running sequentially. Reservations are currently accepted to stay at this exciting resort.

This experience-based tourism is sure to make Kamikatsu even more famous worldwide as the leader of sustainable waste management. Its initiatives will inspire citizens and municipalities around the world to create a sustainable society.

You can read about our previous report on Zero Waste Town Kamikatsu here.