The Dream of Circulation on an Isolated Island in the Sea - Remote Island Society and the Search for Recycling (March 2002)

The Dream of Circulation on an Isolated Island in the Sea - Remote Island Society and the Search for Recycling (March 2002)

In 2002, following the development of the Basic Law for Establishing a Recycling-Oriented Society, a wave of environmental business was sweeping over the remote islands. On Yakushima Island, 80% of electricity is provided by hydroelectric power, and composting of human waste and food scraps is progressing. On Okinoerabu Island, 25% of farmland is used for composting, and on Hachijojima, a deposit system for cans was producing results. On Amami Oshima, however, the cost of transporting refrigerators was expensive, at over 8,000 yen, and the cost of recycling was a burden on the islanders. This also led to conflicts among local governments over "which island to locate the facility on. Under these circumstances, before the extension of the "Remote Islands Promotion Law," the government was reviewing the situation with an emphasis on building a recycling-oriented society. The islanders were faced with a mountain of issues, including the difficulty of maintaining facilities, deali
ng with tourism waste, and the withdrawal of businesses due to financial difficulties, but they were still seeking a "sustainable lifestyle" and engaged in dialogue with the government. The wisdom of living with nature was about to take shape beyond the sea.