Complain as people might in most Indian cities about the growing garbage problem, there seems little most of them are willing to do to help tackle the problem. As civic authorities point out often, many city residents aren’t even willing to segregate their waste into wet and dry waste for recycling, composting and proper disposal.
But one Japanese town shows just what is possible when an entire community commits to a comprehensive effort towards zero waste. Kamikatsu, which practised open incineration of all its waste till 2003, now ensures that a whopping 80% of its waste gets recycled, reused or composted. And by 2020, the town aims to be 100% zero-waste.
How does the town manage this incredible feat? With one of the most rigorous waste segregation policies in the world: residents sort waste into 34 different categories to allow for the most efficient recycling process. As one resident says, “It can be a pain, and at first we were opposed to the idea.” But, she adds, “If you get used to it, it becomes normal.”
The town also boasts of facilities like a factory where local women make a variety of products out of discarded items.
Watch this video to learn what it’s like to live in a nearly zero-waste community.