Yokohama’s circular city project begins tracking resource flow in Minato Mirai

Yokohama City and the Yokohama SDGs Design Center are driving the Minato Mirai Circular City Project, a key initiative in the Minato Mirai district, designated as a leading decarbonisation area. This effort focuses on visualising resource circulation and tracking progress quantitatively, making it the first of its kind at the district level in Japan.

By analysing resource circulation, the initiative provides a clear picture of how materials flow within the district. It measures the volume of resources entering the area, the waste produced, and how much is successfully recycled. The collected data helps refine strategies to enhance circularity, pinpoint key areas for improvement, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by increasing resource reuse.

Yokohama City and the Yokohama SDGs Design Center oversee the project, ensuring collaboration among stakeholders. The General Incorporated Association Yokohama Minato Mirai 21 works to engage local businesses, office buildings, and commercial facilities in the initiative. Recotech Inc. contributes by generating and analysing data, offering guidance, and using its digital application “pool” to monitor waste generation in real time. The initiative provides a structured approach to transforming resource management in urban settings, reinforcing sustainable practices and environmental responsibility.