Local Town Launches NPO for "Zero Waste" Efforts

Aiming for zero waste, Kamikatsu Town, Tokushima Prefecture, has been active in using natural resources effectively and reducing waste, which is harmful to the global environment, to near zero wherever possible by 2020. For this purpose, the Zero Waste Academy Japan, a non-profit organization, was established in the town on April 1, 2005. The organization is committed to promote awareness-raising about zero waste, train human resources to be more environmentally-minded, conduct surveys and research, and make policy proposals based on their studies.

While requiring its residents and industries to separate waste into 34 categories since 2001, the town made a Zero Waste Declaration in September 2003, the first in the country aiming to reduce its waste to zero by 2020. Its activities for zero waste activities, including an international symposium, that create new business opportunities have been highly evaluated by the Ministry of the Environment under its "Model Projects of the Virtuous Cycle between Economy and the Environment" program.

The establishment of the new NPO reflects the town's determination to expand its campaign for solutions of fundamental waste problems on a nationwide level. The town also established a fund for zero-waste efforts in December 2004 to support NPOs and other organizations, with contributions from companies and individuals. An ordinance was enacted to manage the fund in a transparent and effective way.



Posted: 2005/10/31 08:58:35 AM
Japanese version