Three Municipalities Added to Biomass Town Program

The Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) has added biomass utilization plans by three municipalities -- Shikaoi Town in Hokkaido, Maniwa City in Okayama Prefecture and Yusuhara Town in Kochi Prefecture -- to its Biomass Information Headquarters website, according to the ministry's 12th Biomass Town Program announcement issued on April 27, 2006. This website had been set up to provide a variety of information relating to the Biomass Nippon Strategy, Japan's strategy for biomass utilization. Since August 27, 2004, MAFF has been inviting municipalities to submit plans for promoting comprehensive and effective use of biomass based on this program.

Shikaoi Town aims to produce and efficiently apply high-quality compost derived from waste biomass, establish systematized technologies to utilize biomass by using biogas energy, foster collaboration between farming and stockbreeding operations, and create a sustainable community with fewer impacts on the natural environment.

Maniwa City seeks to organize a system for collecting, transforming and using waste biomass derived from wood processing, livestock manure, food waste and unmarketable lumber products. The city aims to raise its waste biomass utilization rate to 90 percent or more.

Yusuhara Town plans to effectively use its rich wood biomass resources and establish a cyclical use system for waste biomass such as kitchen garbage, human wastes and agricultural effluent sludge.



Posted: 2006/07/14 11:42:24 PM
Japanese version