At first glance, this quiet Japanese village looks no different from any other, but visitors are often astonished to discover that every single piece of waste here is reused or recycled.
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Kamikatsu, a small village in southern Japan, once relied heavily on burning trash. However, everything changed in 2003 when residents realized how harmful this practice was to the environment. A community-wide campaign was launched to manage daily waste in an eco-friendly way. From then on, villagers were required to separate their garbage into 34 distinct categories to ensure accurate sorting.
Studies revealed that burning waste had released toxic gases, damaging local food sources and daily life. Recognizing these consequences, the people of Kamikatsu resolved to transform their home into the first community to completely eliminate garbage.
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Adapting to this new waste system took time. Aluminum cans, steel tins, paper, and cardboard had to be washed, sorted, and taken to the recycling center, where they were placed into the proper containers. Beyond separating waste, residents also learned to recycle and repurpose items. Old kimonos, for instance, were turned into stuffed toys for children, while furniture and household items were exchanged freely among neighbors.
Thanks to these efforts, around 80% of the village’s waste is now reused. This has reduced one-third of the costs previously spent on incineration. The ultimate goal is to achieve zero waste, a milestone the village hoped to reach by 2020.
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What makes Kamikatsu unique is that there are no garbage trucks—every resident is responsible for sorting and delivering their own waste to the recycling center. This model has attracted national and international attention, inspiring other communities to adopt similar eco-friendly practices.
In addition, recycling has grown into a local business opportunity. The Kuru Kuru craft center, where discarded materials are transformed into shirts, handbags, and bottles, welcomes thousands of visitors every year, bringing both tourism and income to the village.
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Kamikatsu’s journey shows how a community can rethink its approach to waste when faced with environmental challenges. While the village’s model may not be easy to replicate everywhere, it offers a valuable example of how collective effort, creativity, and responsibility can bring about meaningful change.
