Garbage Disposal in Kumamoto and Minnesota

In this summer, I went to Minnesota, and I research the problems about garbage. 

1.      Introduction

Environmental problems are very important to us and becoming more serious all over the world. There are a lot of problems for example global warming, air pollution, acid rain and deforestation and so on. These are big problems and we don’t know how to act to improve this issue. So, we have to start with little things, like garbage disposal. This per will discuss how to take out garbage and the differences in the rules in Kumamoto and Minnesota. It will also think about the future of garbage, disposal and recycling in order to stop global warming. I researched this paper using Arden Hills, Minnesota, official site and Kumamoto official sites. Trash can be separated into domestic waste and factory waste. Kumamoto produces about 560000 tons waste of every year. This figure has decreased in just the past decades. In per capita terms, this is 836 grams. On the other hand, in the Twin cities metropolitan area, they produce about 6 pounds of waste per person each day.

 

2.      The difference of rules

             There are many rules in Kumamoto in regards to taking out garbage. We have to decide garbage into seven categories based on that behavior. These are combustible waste, paper, recyclable waste, landfill waste, plastic bottle, sorted garbage and large refuse.

First, combustible waste contains kitchen garbage, scrap paper, and leather. We take out this garbage in my area on Mondays and Thursdays. Recyclable garbage like glass, bicycles, used batteries and empty cans are taken out on the second and fourth Fridays of the month. Paper like magazines, cardboard and advertising catalogs can be taken out on Wednesdays. To take out these kinds of garbage, we have to buy plastic bags which are used only for this kind of garbage. Usually, the biggest one costs 35 yen. To throw away bulk trash like furniture, refrigerators, and TVs, you should apply ahead of time.

When we dispose trash, we have to follow the rules that the city decides in Japan. But in Minnesota, the Government and city don’t personally regulate the trash. Instead of this, there are six private licensed garbage haulers in Arden Hills. If you want to dispose of garbage, you need to contact the garbage haulers directly for more information or to set up a contract. And there is a way to dispose of it yourself. In Arden Hills encourages back yard composting of kitchen and yard waste.

3.      Waste Management

Japan is said to use garbage incinerators because there is no space to bury garbage. Incineration average is 72 % and there are 1490 centers in Japan. It is a very high percentage when compared to the rest of the world. Japanese people used to burn their own garbage in schools and houses but because of the problem of dioxin, incineration in school was banned in 1997 and also incineration in houses in 2004. If you burn garbage or leaves in your home, you will get fined up to charged ten million yen or a maximum of five years in prison. Although there are such strict rules, house incineration seems to have not decreased.  On the other hand, America only uses incineration for 10 % of waste and there are only 168 centers (Kankyou monndai, 2010-2013).

4.      About recycle

Reducing waste, reusing items, and recycling are three important steps anyone can take to minimize waste and protect our environment. In Arden Hills, you can use Eureka Recycling Service. (Zero-Waste Events (2012) Eureka Recycling) It is able to recycle more items, producing close to zero-waste. Also, Arden Hills encourages back yard composting of kitchen scraps and yard waste.

In Kumamoto there are two recycling centers. And every day the products change into other things through some processes. For example, waste can change aluminum can by pudding raw material. Metal changes are brought about by dissolving to get rid of impure substances and changing it into the new metal. These recycled metals are for products like.

5.      Clean-up days

There are clean-up days in both Arden Hills and Kumamoto. Refuse and electronics drop-offs are available for a reduced cost to Arden Hills residents twice a year during the Community Clean Up Day events. The spring clean-up day is held on a Saturday in May and fall clean-up day is held on first Saturday of October. (Community Clean Up day (2013) Arden Hills, Minnesota)

Also there are Clean-up days in Kumamoto, too. They are held twice a year, on a summer Sunday and a fall Sunday. On these days, people get together and clean the area around their houses and schools. This includes getting rid of weeds, accumulating garbage and cleaning the community center. People do it about half of the day, so it is a very hard job. Each area does such things in order to not dirty their city and area. It is a very important job to keep cleaning and for people’s communication.

6.      Conclusion

Cleaning is very important for people and society because a dirty city, for example a place that is deluged with graffiti, encourage crime and misbehavior in young people. Moreover, clean cities are very silent and stable, so people can live there in ease. Separating garbage is necessary but the most important thing we have to do is not increase garbage per person. We should take care to decrease our garbage every day to help our children and descendent. Thinking about is essential for our future.

7.      Bibliography

Community Clean Up day (2013) Arden Hills, Minnesota. retrieved Dec. 13, 2013 fromhttp://www.cityofardenhills.org/index.aspx?nid=108

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (n.d.) Ramsey County. Retrieved Dec. 13,2013 fromhttp://www.co.ramsey.mn.us/ph/rt/Reduce_Reuse_Recycle.htm

Gomi ga Saisei sareru made [from garbage to recycling, in Japanese] (n.d.) Kumamoto City Recycle Center retrieved Dec. 13, 2013 fromhttp://www.recycle110.com/recycle.htm

Zero-Waste Events (2012) Eureka Recycling. Retrieved Dec. 13, 2013 fromhttp://www.makedirtnotwaste.org/zero-waste-events

Gaikoku to Nihonnno hikaku [comparing foreign country and Japan] (n.d.) Our future. Retrieved Dec. 13, 2013 fromhttp://homepage2.nifty.com/kike/gai-kimari/kimari1.html

Kankyou monndai [environmental problems] (2010-2013) Ecological Engineering Creative Organization Co., Ltd. Retrieved Dec.13,2013 fromhttp://ecocreative.jp/environment/article03.html

Gomi syusyu karenda [calendar of collection garbage] (n.d.) Kumamoto City. Retrieved Dec.13,2013 fromhttp://www.city.kumamoto.kumamoto.jp/kankyo/gomi/bunbetsu25.html

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