Suginami Ward, Tokyo - A Recycling-Oriented Society Model for an Urban Municipality - Perspectives from 2002

Suginami Ward, Tokyo - A Recycling-Oriented Society Model for an Urban Municipality - Perspectives from 2002

In 2002, Suginami Ward was facing waste disposal and illegal dumping problems unique to densely populated areas, and was in the process of formulating its own ordinances with the aim of realizing a recycling-oriented society. The background to this was the Basic Law for Establishing a Recycling-based Society, which came into effect in 2000, and which required local governments to establish specific systems. Suginami Ward sought to put in place a system that would support the efficient use of resources by focusing on the promotion of recycling and regional zero emissions. The zero emission philosophy was directly linked to solving the problems of urban areas, as the amount of final disposal of waste generated by urban life and industrial activities was to be reduced to near zero through reuse and conversion into resources. Furthermore, the district tried to balance environmental measures and industrial infrastructure by emphasizing the development of excellent industrial waste
disposers and ensuring the reliability of treatment technologies. At the time, with illegal dumping and the shortage of disposal sites becoming more serious nationwide, Suginami Ward's efforts were regarded as a progressive challenge for an urban municipality and drew attention as a model for the Tokyo metropolitan area. In the post-bubble era, when local governments were shifting from dependence on national public works projects to proactive environmental policies, Suginami Ward's policy was a symbolic attempt to anticipate "urban sustainability.