Kamikatsu: Inside the Zero Waste Town

The Japanese town of Kamikatsu drew headlines in 2003 when it announced an ambition to produce zero waste by 2020. They introduced a strict recycling program; residents now had to wash, dry and sort their trash into 45 different categories.
As the leader of the Zero Waste Academy in Kamikatsu, Akira Sakano's job was to get an entire town on board with a new daily routine. We spoke to Sakano as the town entered their goal year, to hear whether they hit their targets and what lessons they learnt along the way.
Filmed by Naotomo Umewaka.
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[@jqyhlmnp]

-Mitama-

[@Jyriel]

This is more a perfect recycling system than zero waste... Don't get me wrong it is really good to see such motivation for doing the best for the planet, but Zero Waste is to avoid waste in the first place. Like go to the market or zero waste store to buy unpackaged food. Of course you can't deny any plastic but you have to try in the first place.

[@EastBorders]

Romania 🇷🇴 never get to see this

[@christina543]

Is there better packaging natto? All the Japanese natto I found is all from styrofoam :(

[@kazukonishi9838]

ua-cam.com/video/m9ZPq4K_HyA/v-deo.html

[@grantwaters7235]

Don't eat Natto.

[@IrrawaddyRiverDolphin]

Let's make our own natto :)

[@jamesalias595]

You can't achieve zero waste by sending your recyclables to somewhere else where they may or may not be recycled depending upon the market. Too many things are wrapped in plastic, I believe Japan started the process of putting perfectly good vegetables and in plastic, such as apples which don't need to be in a plastic or bubble wrap.

[@kazukonishi9838]

ua-cam.com/video/m9ZPq4K_HyA/v-deo.html

[@daisukidonuts]

We certainly did not START it but we do it excessively yes...sometimes for good reason though. Japan is humid country where food doesn't last long in open air.