Citizens' Circle Spreads to Teganuma and Inba Marsh, Chiba Prefecture: The Era of the Waste Oil Collection Movement to Protect the Two Lakes (Late 1980s - 1990s)

Citizens' Circle Spreads to Teganuma and Inba Marsh, Chiba Prefecture: The Era of the Waste Oil Collection Movement to Protect the Two Lakes (Late 1980s - 1990s)
Teganuma and Obanuma, located in the northwestern part of Chiba Prefecture, were once known as rich waterfront areas, but after the rapid economic growth of Japan, the water quality deteriorated due to the increase of domestic wastewater, and since the 1970s, the lakes have been among the worst eutrophic lakes in Japan. The abnormal proliferation of algae, the foul odor, and a decrease in the number of anglers have cast a shadow over the local waterside culture.

A local citizens' group, feeling a sense of crisis over the situation, began voluntary collection of waste cooking oil from households in 1985. At the time, waste oil was being discharged into drains, contributing to the formation of oil slicks in lakes and marshes and to the burden of sewage treatment. The group is unique in that it was launched based on the idea that citizens themselves could do what they could to protect water while government measures were not keeping pace with the situation.

A small cycle was created in which the collected waste oil was used to make soap, which was then distributed to citizens. A school event was also planned in which children could participate in soap making, spreading awareness in the community that a drop from the home can make a difference in the lake. This initiative has grown into a citizens' movement, so much so that it is said to be aiming to become a town of soap.

In the late 1980s, synthetic detergent pollution was being discussed and the movement to encourage citizens to use soap was growing nationwide. The campaign in the Teganuma-Inba swamp area played a part in this trend and attracted attention in conjunction with the Environment Agency's measures against domestic wastewater. In the 1990s, with the cooperation of local governments, this movement developed into a community-wide waste oil collection system, contributing to the advancement of lake restoration measures.