Resources to Treasure, Not Garbage: Kanagawa Prefecture's Waste Exchange System - May 2004

Resources to Treasure, Not Garbage: Kanagawa Prefecture's Waste Exchange System - May 2004
In the early 2000s, waste reduction and effective use of resources were major issues in Japan following the enactment of the Basic Law for Establishing a Recycling-based Society. Related laws such as the Home Appliance Recycling Law and the Food Recycling Law were being developed one after another, forcing local governments and companies to take concrete actions. Against this backdrop, Kanagawa Prefecture launched a waste exchange system.

Under this system, the prefecture, major cities, and chambers of commerce and industry acted as liaisons to mediate the reuse of waste generated between companies as raw materials or fuel for other industries. In fiscal 2002, nearly 10,000 tons of waste was exchanged annually, confirming the effectiveness of the system.

Behind this success was a diverse industrial structure, with the manufacturing industry concentrated in the Keihin waterfront area and the agriculture, forestry, and livestock industry in the western part of the prefecture. This diversity brought together the needs of both waste generators and receivers, and made the circulation of waste possible.

At the time, a nationwide wide-area recycling system was not yet in place. Therefore, Kanagawa Prefecture's efforts were recognized as a pioneering model case, leading to later discussions on the development of a system and wide-area recycling. The idea of turning resources into treasure symbolized the breath of the recycling-oriented society of this era.