Global Environment Note #04
“Note on Global Environment from Hokkaido” is a special series that will send you a report of Environment of the world, Japan and Hokkaido NOW, and give you hints to begin Eco-friendly life Now, to reduce the GHG (Green House Gas) by 6%, in order to avoid the global warming.The key for the fourth series is “52.73 million ton”
The total household waste collected in year 2005 was 52.73 million tons. The transportation, incineration, or landfill of wastes generate a great amount of CO2, causing global warming. Using this “Global Environment Note” as a guide, let us think of ways to reduce the daily amount of household waste.Where does Household waste go?
The amount of waste generated per person is about 1.2 kg /day
The total amount of domestic waste generated in Hokkaido was 2.533 million tons (2004). The amount is equivalent to 5.3 times the cubic capacity of the Sapporo Dome (closed arena: 1.58 million m3). Each person in Hokkaido generated 1,222 g of waste per day (in year 2004), and although the amount is decreasing year by year, it is still higher compared to the national average of 1086 g.About 20% of waste is recyclable
The collected wastes are sorted depending on its material, then 2.9 % of the wastes are landfilled, 77.4 % are incinerated, and the remaining 19.7% are used as “recyclable waste”, which include items with metal, plastic, and paper. Among the 19.7%, 5.1% are reused without reprocessing, and 14.6 % are recycled after being processed into new material.How does the waste reduction relate to the CO2 reduction?
“large amount of wastes” become “large amount of CO2”
About 80 percent of the wastes are “burnables”, which would be treated in municipal incineration plants. During the process of incineration, a large amount of CO2 is emitted into the atmosphere. Although the amount of household waste has been decreasing after reaching its maximum in 2000, further reduction is required to prevent global warming.Use products for a long time and with care
“Disposable items” is one of the causes for increasing CO2 emission in the waste treatment processes. Both transportation and incineration of wastes result in the emission of CO2. Also, production of goods uses resources and energy, thus results in the emission of CO2. Therefore, the lifestyle that disposes old items and consumes new items results in twice the emission of CO2. Such lifestyle should be stopped now, and it is necessary to use things with care and for a long time.
What is Re-Style?
Re-Style includes 3 “Re”s.
Do you know the word “3R” ? The word “3Rs” came from the three English words “Reduce”, “Reuse”, and “Recycle”. Reducing means choosing to use things with care to reduce the amount of waste generated. Reusing means the repeated use of items or parts of items that have usable aspects. Recycling means the use of waste as resources. In daily or business scenes, a lifestyle employing the “3Rs” principle is called “Re-Style”.
Aiming for a sustainable social system
The principle of “Re-Style” is to know that there is a limited amount of resources available, and to use finite resources with care through recycling or reusing, so that there would be less waste generated. The former cycle of mass production, mass consumption, and mass disposal must be stopped, and producers, consumers, and local autonomies should cooperate together to build a sustainable, environmentally friendly society. This goal requires a strong commitment and effort from each individual in a society.
What is a “Re-Style” lifestyle like?
You can start your Re-Style life today
Everyone can easily start a Re-Style lifestyle. For instance, sorting out wastes properly, using old clothes for patchwork, or exchanging items that are no longer needed in a free market, are all examples of Re-Style. The important points are; to find value in things around you, to use things with care so they last long, and to properly dispose of things according to the local waste guidelines.
Re-Style by municipalities and local governments
The efforts for the Re-Style initiatives are seen all over the country. Since 1997, Kyoto city has been collecting used cooking oil from households to convert it to biodiesel fuel. Hokkaido has also established a “Zero-waste program Hokkaido” in 2000, which aims for a sustainable society and promotes the effective utilization of the renewable biomass resources.