Our society has been propped up to date by a framework of massive production and consumption. Consequently, we have managed to secure substantial levels of wealth and convenience; on the other hand, we have also triggered environmental problems on a global scale, such as by squandering our natural resources and causing the depletion of our precious natural environment.
In recent years, awareness of waste issues has increased among residents of Tokyo and companies, while progress has been made in terms of recycling initiatives. However, considerable volumes of waste plastics, construction sludge, and more continue to be sent to landfills without being effectively utilized. There seems to be no end to the illegal dumping of construction waste. In addition, the safe and secure disposition of hazardous wastes is also necessary.
In order to resolve these issues and pursue initiatives with a view to transforming ourselves into a recycling-oriented society, TMG enacted the TMG waste Treatment plan (term of plan: five years from fiscal year 2006 to fiscal year 2010), which outlined six targets for achieving a sustainable recycling society, in September 2006. Furthermore, the Tokyo Metropolitan Environmental Master Plan was newly enacted in March 2008 with the aim of realizing an advanced environmental city with the lowest environmental load in the world. We aim to build a recycling society by steadily implementing the measures set forth in these plans.
Waste is defined as unnecessary material in a solid/liquid state that cannot be used by its owner or cannot be sold to others, including a large variety of materials such as household wastes, waste generated through industrial and other activities, debris produced from construction projects, and a wide range of other items. Waste is broadly classified into two groups: general waste and industrial waste. Industrial waste, which is generated as a result of industrial activities, includes 20 types of waste specified by law. General waste is defined as any waste other than industrial waste, including domestic waste generated from households and commercial waste generated by offi ces and restaurants.
Hazardous waste, which is explosive, toxic, or infectious, and may cause damage to human health or the living environment, is designated either as specially controlled municipal waste or as specially controlled industrial waste. The waste included in these categories must be treated according to the stricter standards.
(URL) http://www2.kankyo.metro.tokyo.jp/sanpai/guide/kind/index.htm
◎ Responsibility for Waste Management
In principle, the responsibility for the appropriate disposition of household wastes lies with municipal governments. Thus, each municipality formulates a household waste disposal plan, seeks the cooperation of residents with respect to the disposition of waste in accordance with this plan, collects household wastes generated within its jurisdiction, and subjects such waste to a process of intermediate treatment (such as through incineration) before permanently disposing of the residual waste. Some municipalities undertake the stages of intermediate treatment and permanent disposition on their own, while others undertake them jointly with service associations that they establish.
At the same time, industrial waste is, in principle, disposed of at the responsibility of the companies that generate them. Where a company is unable to dispose of its own industrial waste, it must outsource treatment to an industrial waste processing company. A company in this situation is still responsible for disposition until the point at which the consigned waste has been appropriately treated.
The total volume of household waste generated in the metropolitan area in fiscal year 2006 declined on a year-onyear basis by 70,000 tons to 4.97 million tons. Of this amount, 3.67 million tons of household waste was generated within the twenty-three wards of Tokyo, 1.28 million tons were generated in the Tama region, and 20,000 tons were generated on the metropolitan islands.
According to current conditions and disposition methods, household waste can be broadly categorized as combustible waste, noncombustible waste, oversized garbage, resource trash to be directly recycled through separated collection, and in-house waste. Combustible waste accounts for 46% of the total volume of household waste.
in the text and access
