Waste disposal in Japan
From next year however, the 23 wards in Tokyo will abolish the requirement to sort out non-combustible plastics - after 35 years of garbage separation.
Up until now, plastics which cant be recycled such as toys (figures and Gunams?!), soiled food containers, CD cases etc have been buried in the artificial land in Tokyo Bay. The waste burial area will run out of space in 30 years meaning that there will be nowhere to bury garbage anymore.
The governing body of Tokyo has therefore decided to burn non-recyclable plastics and extend the burial space available for another 20 years.
The governing body of Tokyo says that plastics can now be burnt while suppressing the amount of poisonous dioxins released which is another reason why they made this decision.
Many citizens of Tokyo feel uncomfortable with the decision as they have been asked to separate out non-combustible plastics for 35 years. Most citizens separate their garbage diligently and this decision makes them question what they have been doing up until now.
Below: An example of how diligent the folks over here are about recycling. Milk cartons are cut open, washed and hug to dry before sticking in the recycle bins located at supermarkets.
Plastic bottles are crushed, label and cap removed and washed.
Plastic trays that come with food are washed and disposed in the recycle bins.
Source of news from Mainichi and all over the TV.
