History and Current Status of the Yatsushiro Eco-Port Project (2003-2020s)
In 2003, Yatsushiro City, Kumamoto Prefecture, launched the Yatsushiro Eco-Port Concept, a project aimed at recycling waste and revitalizing the local economy. The area surrounding Yatsushiro Port has developed into a hub for both environmental conservation and regional development, with a concentration of eco-business companies such as Yatsushiro Recycle, Inc. and Japan Recycling Systems, Inc. Under this concept, approximately 5,000 tons of waste is recycled annually, and about 20% of metal waste such as aluminum and copper is recycled. The recycling rate of plastic waste has also increased to the point where approximately 10,000 tons of plastic waste is recycled into products annually.
In the 2020s, Yatsushiro City has begun to further develop its eco-port concept and focus on the formation of a carbon neutral port (CNP). This, together with the reuse of waste within the region, will promote decarbonization throughout the port, with the goal of making Yatsushiro Port a model sustainable port in Japan. Specifically, in collaboration with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, we are promoting the realization of a low-carbon society in tandem with local industry, including the development of import and storage facilities for hydrogen, ammonia, and other new energy sources.
Furthermore, in the spring of 2023, the acceptance of cruise ships, which had been temporarily suspended due to a new type of coronavirus infection, resumed. Cruise ship calls to Kumamon Port Yatsushiro will be restored, and it is expected to contribute to the local economy through tourism. As a result, Yatsushiro City has set a goal of raising the waste recycling rate generated within the region to over 50% by 2030, and the Yatsushiro Eco-Port concept continues to grow into an environmental business model for all of Kumamoto Prefecture that will have a significant impact on other regions as well.
No comments:
Post a Comment