Introducing Japan’s First Zero-Waste Town
Florentyna Leow, a writer, translator, and tour guide based in Tokyo, takes a journey through Kamikatsu, a small town in Japan that achieved an 81% recycling rate in 2016. In 2003, Kamikatsu became the first municipality in Japan to declare a zero-waste goal by 2020. The town sorts waste into 45 categories — down to items as small as toothpaste tubes — offering a model for effective waste management. Florentyna highlights how recycling has become central to the town’s identity, shaping how residents relate to their everyday practices. Still, Kamikatsu has not escaped Japan’s aging population crisis. With only 1,400 residents, many elderly people face mobility challenges that make traveling to the waste site difficult. A housing shortage for newcomers further complicates revitalization efforts. The shortage of housing for new residents further aggravates the population issue. Nevertheless, the progressive environmental policies have attracted a new wave of young residents to the town over the years, showing a glimmer of hope. Terumi Azuma is one of the new residents who moved back to the town after living in the city. She and several other residents, who are passionate about improving the sustainable lifestyle in Kamikatsu, now lead discussions on how to further improve the recycling system in the town, while pointing out that living in Kamikatsu is a retreat from the consuming culture in big cities.