Tama City in Tokyo, Japan aims to reduce combustible and incombustible waste by 10,000 tons or 25 percent of present levels by fiscal 2012 under the combined efforts of citizens, businesses and the government, based on the Tama City Waste Reduction Plan by Collaborative Efforts formulated in December 2006.

Japan for Sustainability reports that after discontinuing the collection of waste in dust boxes at collection ports in fiscal 2000, the city started house-to-house waste collection and has been promoting kitchen refuse disposal at home and educational activities in cooperation with community groups. As a result, it has reduced waste by 8,000 tons or 15 percent in fiscal 2005 from fiscal 1999 levels. To promote further waste reduction and recycling, the city formulated a systematic plan based on meetings and collaborative activities with citizens.

To reduce waste, the city will promote recycling in cooperation with private companies and begin collecting plastic containers and packages, as well as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles, and colorless styrene foam trays that have been collected separately for recycling. The city also plans to promote green procurement and encourage citizens to change their lifestyles, for example, by using recycled goods and their own shopping bags.

The city plans to introduce designated bags for household waste collection in April 2008, and this is expected to encourage recycling of used paper, which accounts for 40 percent (8000 tons) of combustible waste, and plastics, which account for 60 percent (3000 tons) of incombustible waste, thereby achieving the target.

Tama City regime for the proper disposal of garbage and resources

Combustible garbage (kitchen garbage, paper, cloth)

Drain water well of all kitchen waste and put in the sealed bag before putting out.

Non-combustible garbage

As to plastic containers and wrappers, put them in a plastic bag after washing them well, and then put them out.

Resources (Cans, bottles, PET bottles, old papers, old cloths, etc.)

Wash bottles, cans, PET bottles and paper packs before putting out. Also, open and dry paper packs before putting out. Please bundle newspapers, cardboard boxes, magazines (books, pamphlets, leaflets, boxes for sweets, etc.) before putting out. As to the old cloths, put them in a transparent plastic sealed bag before putting out. Detached housing residential areas and housing estates with designated collection place have permanent collection boxes set up for bottles, cans, and PET bottles. In areas where collection is done from door to door, recyclable bottles, cans and PET bottles can be put out any time at the recycle box located at public facilities, etc. As to the white trays, wash and either you deposit them to a store collecting them or bring them to at the city hall parking space, Eco Plaza Tama, etc.

Hazardous items (Dry cell battery (manganese cell, mercury cell, and alkaline cell), thermometer, and fluorescent tube, spray can, lighter, broken glass)

Put dry cell battery and thermometer in a transparent plastic bag, and when a considerable numbers were gathered put them out. As to the fluorescent tubes, put them in a canister or box so that they do not break

Bulky garbage (application system) (electrical home appliance, bed, desk, wardrobe, carpet, mattress, bicycle, futon, etc)

Be sure to make your application by 3 p. m. the day before you put them out. (If the scheduled collection day is Saturday, Sunday, or holiday, make your application the day before these days.) Buy a sticker, write your name and attach in the bulky garbage where it can be easily seen. (You can put them out up to three items at a time.)>>