Yamagata Prefecture, located in Japan's Tohoku (northeast) region, announced on May 27, 2008, that a council has been set up to plan the sustainable use of debris from trees and build a regional sustainable system -- in cooperation with agriculture agencies, environmental group, and government bodies -- for more effective use of ligneous biomass resources such as branches from fruit trees, roadside trees, and trees that fall across rivers.

For example, about 26,000 tons of branches are cut and abandoned by orchards each year in the course of fruit tree management. Current disposal options are limited to burning, landfilling, and stockpiling, but these are a concern because of the risk of smoke, soot, or forest fires.

This scheme allows contractors to collect branches, in cooperation with farms and agricultural cooperatives, and then distribute them to communal facilities or power-generating industries to turn into electricity. The goal of the council is to have a feasible system established this fiscal year so as to start operations in the 2009 fiscal year.


http://www.pref.yamagata.jp/ou/bunkakankyo/050001/kokusai/english/eindex.html

Posted: 2008/08/30 10:10:55 AM

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