Japanese City of Ikoma Removes Vending Machines to Shrink Eco-footprint

Ikoma, a city in Japan's Nara Prefecture, announced on February 25, 2008 its decision to gradually remove beverage and cigarette vending machines from its public facilities as part of efforts to reduce the environmental impacts of mass-consumption.

The city first started its Eco-friendly Office campaign in November 2001 to encourage the implementation of environmental conservation measures to combat global warming. Since then, it has taken the lead to reduce its resource use, increase energy savings, reduce waste generation, and increase resource recycling. This latest decision is part of its overall program.

As of March 2008, Ikoma had already removed four beverage and two cigarette vending machines in the municipal office, fire hall, school lunch center, and the waterworks department, where city employees are usually the only customers. Staff will also be checking on the need for the other 33 soft drink machines in the city's community centers, gyms, parks, and so on. A decision on reducing the number of machines or removing them all will be made by the end of September 2008.

For locations where people absolutely need access to beverages, such as at gyms and swimming pools, a minimum number of vending machines will be allowed, but they will be replaced with ones that consume less energy.

http://www.city.ikoma.lg.jp/en/

Posted: 2008/06/13 06:02:53 PM