Discover the village without a single piece of trash
This peaceful village at first glance looks like nothing special, but when exploring, visitors will be extremely surprised to see that all the waste is completely reused.
The small village of Kamikatsu in southern Japan used to burn trash, but in 2003, everything seemed to change. People began to realize that their actions were harming the environment. A campaign was launched to help manage daily waste effectively and in an environmentally friendly way. This activity required everyone to distinguish between 34 different types of trash in order to classify them correctly.
In fact, studies have shown that burning trash produces large amounts of toxic gases, severely damaging the town’s food supply. After realizing that previous waste disposal practices were severely impacting daily life, people were determined to make a change, turning the town into the first place to say no to trash.
It took everyone in Kamikatsu a long time to get used to this new waste management model. Aluminum cans, iron cans, papers, and cardboard had to be washed, sorted, and then brought to the recycling center. Here, people would separate the waste specifically and put it into the correct containers according to regulations.
People not only learn to separate their trash but also learn to recycle and reuse discarded items. Locals have created useful items from discarded items, such as turning old kimonos into teddy bears for children.
Some other items such as tables, chairs and furniture will be delivered to those in need, in return they will be able to choose other items for free.
Today, 80% of Kamikatsu’s garbage is recycled. The town has saved a third of its incinerator costs. The village hopes to be completely waste-free by 2020.
One special thing is that Kamikatsu village does not have garbage trucks, everyone has to do all the processes by themselves, then bring the garbage to the center for processing. This village has become very famous in Japan and around the world, many places have applied and imitated this environmentally friendly processing model.
In addition, business activities from recycling waste are gradually becoming popular, bringing a not small source of profit to the city. Every year, Kuru Kuru craft village in Kamikatsu attracts thousands of tourists to visit and shop for items such as shirts, bags, and bottles recycled from waste.
