The Waste Management in Japan

Why Japan is so clean? The first impression of a close look at Japan makes the writer in awe of the cleanliness of the country. Difficult to find garbage strewn at any location. Based on the awareness of the danger caused by Japan's economic growth is so rapid and severe impact on the environment, the Japanese government established the Environment Agency in 1971 as in 1967, enacted the Basic Law on Environmental Pollution Monitoring. Subsequently issued various laws related to environmental pollution, such as the Law of Air Pollution Control, Water, and Environmental Impact Assessment.

The Clean streets of Osaka. (Picture from: http://darkdiamond.net/)

In 1991 Japan enacted the Recycling Act with the goal of reducing the volume of waste and increase recycling measures. Under this law firm goods manufacturers have tried to design the product in such a way that it later easily recycled, among others by marking on cans are made of steel or aluminum.

Law on Recycling Containers/Packaging entered into force in 1997 set the disposal container or wrapping/packaging. Starting from households that have or are required to sort out the garbage by type. PET (polyethylene terephthalete) bottles, glass bottles and cans (steel and aluminum).

The companies are required to collect back and reuse (recycling) of container products namely PET bottles, glass bottles and so on. Further out again other laws governing the wrapping paper and other types of plastic than PET bottles.

Cleanliness Japan is an incredibly clean place, there isn’t a single piece of litter anywhere in sight and you could almost eat your dinner off the floor. (Picture from: http://www.explore.co.uk/)

Plastic and vinyl are used as packing material for cheap disposable, has become the main cause of the increase in waste and dioxin gas. It is therefore necessary that the limited use and recycled. Use of recycled paper in Japan has risen above 50 percent and is one of the highest rates in the world achieved. Do businesses collecting old newspapers from the offices and homes to be reprocessed and recycled use.

Every household in Japan can not just put all the waste into one bag only, because the waste must be sorted out and put into garbage bags separately. In fact there are governments that require included in the transparent garbage bags.

There are several types/categories for sorting the garbage. It depends on the policy of the local government, but basically the home waste divided into several types of combustible waste (kitchen waste, small papers, diapers, cigarette butts, and the like), non-combustible waste (metal items, rubber, leather, plastic bags, small gas cylinders, and the like), and a huge waste (not including air conditioning, TV, fridge, freezer, washing machine and a computer).

At the airport, for example, we can see from the posts on trash waste sorting system applied in this type of paper, organic, plastic, metal, and glass bottles.

The meaning of it is waste that can not be put into garbage bags due to their size and can not be placed or left in landfills, because they were taken before agreement must be made by a special body appointed local government, and for that there its own costs. All violations will be sanctioned quite hard and it is enforced without compromise.

Next we will look at an example of a sewerage system in Shinjuku in central Tokyo. Shinjuku is an area of ​​offices and shops were crowded, and there are also residential. Waste from ordinary household taken for free, for example, trash flammable items, kitchen waste, and waste is not flammable. While large trash must be taken by appointment only. For waste electronic tools are there separate procedures associated with the manufacturing of tools that can be recycled.

To waste from shops and businesses free of charge. Basically the government wants to take care of its own shops and businesses and the disposal of their waste collection (garbage collection through the company and corporate collectors items that can be recycled). But local governments are willing to handle the waste from a store or business so long as less than 50 kg per day, and for that they have to put a special sticker (paying sticker).

What about the waste that can be recycled? The disposal is set by dividing it into 6 categories, with the different disposal/storage site, namely:

1. Old newspapers, magazines and the like (including brochures, wrapping paper, envelopes, note books, candy boxes, milk cartons). Newspapers, magazines, and the like should be tied up neatly separately by type. Not including photographs, plastic-coated paper, paper towels, and so on.
2. Bottles and cans (for food and drinks) should be cleared first. Discard the bottle in a yellow container and cans in the blue container. Little bottles are not included in this category, but are included in non-combustible waste.
3. PET plastic bottle (clear plastic bottles for drinks, sake, mirin and soy sauce) should be removed its lid and label, rinsed sparingly, and flaked. The bottles were dumped in special boxes provided in supermarkets and department stores.
4. Used batteries waste is collected at collection points for dry cell batteries, and flat batteries, nickel-hydrogen battery (rechargeable).
5. Milk carton box, must be removed prior to discharge its contents discharged, minimally rinsed, allowed to dry, and flaked. The boxes that have been flattened and then tied with a rope. There are special places that provide the container, such as supermarkets, local government facilities, and others.
6. Styrofoam containers are usually housed in the collection box supplied supermarkets, cooperative stores, and so on.

For items that can be recycled, it is recommended that citizens hold the 3R principle, ie, Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle, select and return for recycling. Taking process of various types waste at designated collection sites done in turns, for example, household waste is taken three times a week, garbage containers with plastic taken once a week, and so on.

Every household should put their garbage bags or trash without pockets (eg a bunch of old newspapers) into various containers provided in landfills. Certain used goods, such as batteries, to be collected and disposed of at the specified location.

The next question, where is all the waste will be taken, after they has been collected according to the types mentioned? That question will be answered when we go through the highway from Tokyo to Narita. Along the highway we will see three or more sewage treatment plant. Uniquely, we are not going to see any trace of black smoke burning garbage. The building and surrounding site was clean. This plant is very hungry for the waste and trash, these plants compete for trash to be processed so do not be surprised if we will find a lot of private companies that managed the waste bussines and have plant to be set up greedily consuming all of the garbage. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT GOVERNMENT OF JAPAN | LELYWATI IDHAM SURYANA | PIKIRAN RAKYAT 25042013]
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