OMG they're changing the trash rules!

Trash disposal is really interesting in Japan for a couple of reasons. First, there's the fact that Japan is a relatively small country by area compared to its large population, which has compelled the nation to rely on incineration, with around 80% of waste going into the fire. As a result, Tokyo was named "Dioxin Capital of the World" by Greenpeace in 2000. Second, rules for the separation of garbage are also famously strict and confusing. Newspaper articles such as this New York Times one and this Washington Post one report on both of these characteristics. Curiously, both articles reference an obscure mountain village of 2200 residents that sorts its trash into 34 categories.

Here in Sapporo we separate our trash into a mere three groups: "burnable", "un-burnable", and plastic categories. I've got this system down pretty well, with burnable trash being collected on Mondays and Thursdays, plastics on Wednesday, and un-burnables on Fridays. However, we're stepping it up from July 1st, with two new categories being added to the mix: mixed recyclable paper and biodegradable yard waste. Special bags will also be required for burnable trash, and we will have to purchase the bags for about ten to twenty cents each. Whoa!

Here's a cool video detailing the new rules. It's in Japanese, but the pictures should make it fairly understandable! In terms of direct environmental benefits of the rule changes, the video declares that the city will be able to achieve an almost 50% reduction in burnable trash collected, which will translate into recyclables.

I think this is a very good move for Sapporo, primarily because it should encourage increased awareness of the correct sorting of trash and recycling. And compliance is guaranteed by way of the price tag attached to each necessary trash bag. People will surely try to avoid buying the trash bags by creating less trash and correctly recycling, as recycling has no fees attached to its pick-up. The better we recycle and sort, the less we have to pay and those who create more trash pay more.

Since we're in Japan, we of course have mascots for this new program, which are modeled after the Spanish "amigo", shortened to "migo" -- which is "trash" ("go-mi") spelled backwards!　Above is a shot of the 3 migos -- one to represent the proper sorting of trash, one to represent the reduction of trash, and one to represent recycling.