The Zero Waste Town

This week we came across a video focused on ‘The Zero Waste Town’, and it has truly inspired us. It highlights a small town in Japan called Kamikatsu who have chosen to do whatever they can to produce zero waste, and everybody in the town is on board!

It started in 2003 when the local government of Kamikatsu required all citizens of the town to start following a strict and rigorous scheme. This required them to separate all of their waste into 45 different recycling areas. Everything that is recycled is to be washed at their homes before being transported to the recycling centre.

Currently, approximately 80% of the towns waste is recycled and 20% is landfilled.

Any waste food is not thrown into a bin, instead all homes are required to ensure that food scraps are composted on their premises. The government are also very strict on the re-using of house hold items, clothing and anything that can recycled into something else of use.

The town of Kamikatsu hope to have 100% zero waste by 2020! Incredible!

We urge you to watch the video below. It really will get you thinking.

We wondered how possible this is for an entire country, or even planet, to get on board and do the same thing. So much discipline would be needed and would we even have the time to wash, separate and transport our waste to the local recycling centre? This town started in 2003 and 16 years later they are managing to recycle 80% of their waste.

Are we as a planet prepared and disciplined enough to commit to such a scheme? Are we passionate enough about saving our planet and dedicated to ensuring the future of our children is the best it could possible be?

Surely, it is time to consider how we can follow in the footsteps of the zero waste town?