Environment Kanazawa - Fusion of Historical City and Recycling-Oriented Society - Perspectives in 2002

Environment Kanazawa - Fusion of Historical City and Recycling-Oriented Society - Perspectives in 2002

In 2002, Kanazawa City was pursuing a policy of transitioning to a recycling-oriented society while preserving its traditions and landscape as a "historical city. Although Kanazawa had not had the massive industrial waste problem that metropolitan areas have had since the period of high economic growth, as a tourist city, with the increase in visitors and the rise in living standards, the disposal of urban and domestic waste was an unavoidable issue. Nationally, the Basic Law for Establishing a Recycling-Oriented Society came into effect in 2000, requiring each municipality to formulate a specific action plan, and Kanazawa City actively responded to this trend.

The draft ordinance considered by Kanazawa City focused on waste reduction and recycling promotion. This was not merely a waste disposal measure, but was discussed in the context of "urban management that makes the most of local resources," and was also conscious of the connection with traditional crafts and local industry. For example, the promotion of recycling contributed to resource recycling in local industries and was directly linked to the city's sustainability as a tourist destination.

Furthermore, the city emphasized the development of good waste disposal companies. At a time when illegal dumping and improper disposal were becoming social problems nationwide, enhancing the reliability of disposal technology was essential to maintaining the brand of the tourist city. By balancing environmental preservation and industrial revitalization, Kanazawa sought to build a new image as an "environmentally advanced city that harmonizes culture and economy.

In this way, Kanazawa's efforts to preserve its historical landscape while also considering a recycling-oriented society were a testing ground for local cities to integrate "environment" and "culture and economy," symbolizing the trend in the early 2000s to seek a sustainable urban model.