Tama City in Tokyo, Japan aims to reduce combustible and incombustible waste by 10,000 tons or 25 percent of present levels by fiscal 2012 under the combined efforts of citizens, businesses and the government, based on the Tama City Waste Reduction Plan by Collaborative Efforts formulated in December 2006.

After discontinuing the collection of waste in dust boxes at collection ports in fiscal 2000, the city started house-to-house waste collection and has been promoting kitchen refuse disposal at home and educational activities in cooperation with community groups. As a result, it has reduced waste by 8,000 tons or 15 percent in fiscal 2005 from fiscal 1999 levels. To promote further waste reduction and recycling, the city formulated a systematic plan based on meetings and collaborative activities with citizens.

To reduce waste, the city will promote recycling in cooperation with private companies and begin collecting plastic containers and packages, as well as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles, and colorless styrene foam trays that have been collected separately for recycling. The city also plans to promote green procurement and encourage citizens to change their lifestyles, for example, by using recycled goods and their own shopping bags.

The city plans to introduce designated bags for household waste collection in April 2008, and this is expected to encourage recycling of used paper, which accounts for 40 percent (8000 tons) of combustible waste, and plastics, which account for 60 percent (3000 tons) of incombustible waste, thereby achieving the target.



Posted: 2007/04/04 11:44:53 AM
Japanese version

TAG Local government , Manufacturing industry , Material reduction , NGO/Citizen , Non-manufacturing industry