Zero waste declaration cities in Japan

“Zero waste” refers to efforts to reduce garbage produced, by keeping waste and extravagant consumption to a minimum. In accordance with the name, various municipalities and corporations are expanding their specific zero-waste activities with the goal of eliminating waste. The issues of ocean plastic and food loss reduction, which have been gaining attention in recent years, are both part of zero waste.

Zero Waste Declaration Cities

In 1996, Canberra, the capital city of Australia, became the first city in the world to issue a zero-waste declaration. The concept then spread throughout the world, for example in Toronto in Canada and in San Francisco in the United States. New Zealand has a particularly high level of environmental awareness, with around 70% of its municipalities issuing zero-waste declarations.

As of January 2022, there are five cities in Japan that have made zero waste declarations. After Kamikatsu Town in Tokushima Prefecture made the first declaration, the concept spread throughout Japan. Currently, various municipalities are promoting zero waste.

Kamikatsu Town, Tokushima Prefecture

Kamikatsu Town is a city rich in nature, located around one hour by car from Tokushima City. This town, covered with mountains and with calm rural scenery, issued the first zero waste declaration in Japan in 2003. Kamikatsu also announced a new zero waste declaration on December 18, 2020, one that includes things the town wants to attempt in the future.

The town does not do any garbage collection at all. Instead, residents bring their resources such as bottles and cans to the station, where they are sorted into 45 different types. Food waste is used as compost, and each household converts their own food waste into compost. Currently, Kamikatsu Town’s recycling rate is over 80%. At the Zero Waste Center (WHY) in the town, there is a hotel where visitors can learn about, and experience, zero waste.

Oki Town, Fukuoka Prefecture

Oki Town is located in Mizuma District in Fukuoka Prefecture, between the cities of Kurume and Yanagawa. They issued their own “Mottainai Declaration” in 2008. In the environmental plaza in the town, waste other than burnable garbage is separated into 29 types and disposed of. They also sort and collect disposable diapers for recycling, the first of such efforts in Japan. Food waste is gathered at the methane fermentation facility “Oki Circular Center Kururun” in the center of town and converted to liquid compost. This compost is used for the agriculture that supports Oki Town.

In addition, the town has established both Roadside Stations and restaurants that feature local food for local consumption. They are community-building base facilities for connecting the environment, agriculture and food. The town issued its own Oki Town Mottainai Declaration with the aim of reviewing our current wasteful lifestyles and having a town that does not make our children pay for those lifestyles in the future. In 2005, the town disposed of 2,295t of burnable waste a year; by 2018, that amount had been reduced to 914t.

Minamata City, Kumamoto Prefecture

Minamata disease, one of the four major pollution-caused illnesses, occurred in Minamata City, Kumamoto Prefecture, due to organic mercury discharges from a local chemical plant in the 1950s. The city learned from the lessons of this time, and in 2009 issued its own Zero Waste Community Building Minamata Declaration, with the stated aim of preventing waste from stealing the foundations of life.

With a strong will to not rely on landfills, the city cancelled the construction of its last industrial waste disposal center and began sorting and collecting its food waste. In addition, they are also actively promoting the spread of the food waste disposal machine Kiero, lending it to citizens for free. Minamata City has also issued its own “Creating a Model City for the Environment” declaration. In 2020, the city came out with its “3rd Minamata City Environmental Basic Plan,” and is promoting food loss reduction and the 3Rs (reduce, reuse and recycle).

Ikaruga Town, Nara Prefecture

Ikaruga Town in Nara Prefecture is famous for being the location of Horyuji Temple, the last wooden building in the world. The town advocates for a way of life that values resources. In 2017 they issued their “Ikaruga Mahoroba Declaration,” which aims to eliminate the use of incineration and landfills. Since then, they have reduced their emissions every year by reviewing their trash collection systems and disposal methods. In 2018, they achieved a trash recycling rate of 54.1%, greatly exceeding the natural average of 20%. They are striving to further improve the recycling rate, through actions such as establishing a trash separation experience station where trash is sorted into 35 different types.

Miyama City, Fukuoka Prefecture

Following Oki Town, Miyama City became the second municipality in Fukuoka Prefecture to issue its own zero waste declaration. In 2020, they issued their “Miyama City Resource Recycling Town Declaration” with the aim of teaching children, who are responsible for the next generation, about the environment, creating structures to reduce waste and to promote recycling and to reduce disposal costs. Smart Energy Co., Ltd, which is funded by the city, is promoting solar power plants, storage batteries and electrical vehicles with the aim of local production and consumption of energy for the city. The city features unique efforts for zero waste, including utilizing their Bio Mass Center Refrain, and forming a trash sorting support team that promotes the spread of food waste sorting.

Originally published on Life Hugger.
Translated by Chris Lee.