{"id":30191,"date":"2022-02-07T11:46:17","date_gmt":"2022-02-07T16:46:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/world\/?p=30191"},"modified":"2022-02-07T11:54:41","modified_gmt":"2022-02-07T16:54:41","slug":"visiting-kamikatsu-japans-first-zero-waste-community-rises-expands","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/world\/30191\/visiting-kamikatsu-japans-first-zero-waste-community-rises-expands\/","title":{"rendered":"Visiting Kamikatsu: Japan\u2019s First Zero-Waste Community Rises + Expands"},"content":{"rendered":"

Japan\u2019s first Zero Waste town of Kamikatsu is a model to aspire to with its landmark achievement in sustainability. This remote village on Shikoku Island took a hardline approach simply by first asking the right questions when it comes to reusing and repurposing resources and now proudly recycles over 80% of what is used, far exceeding the country\u2019s national average of 20%.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Kamikats Zero Waste Center<\/b><\/h2>\n

These practices converge at a hub known as the Kamikats Zero Waste Center in a beautiful mountainside scene in Tokushima Prefecture and were born out of necessity first.  Strong emissions laws enforced back in 2000 caused the closure of two waste incinerators, leaving the region with a lack of funding and no way to replace them. So, residents either left or decided to stay and band together forming a strong bond and unbreakable commitment to sustainable efforts.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here in Kamikatsu, locals go so far as to separate their waste into 45 different categories while volunteers onsite process it all and provide assistance to those who need additional help staying on track from plastics to metals to paper to clothing. And, what cannot be recycled easily is \u201cgifted\u201d at their direct-to-consumer shop which is more of a depository where items can be left for others to use at no cost.  <\/span><\/p>\n

The World\u2019s First Zero-Waste Hotel<\/b><\/h2>\n

The efforts don\u2019t stop there, rather they continue evolving in multiple genres such as the <\/span>Hotel Why<\/span><\/a>, named the world\u2019s first zero-waste hotel where guests get up-close access to environmentally-friendly practices. It\u2019s a tiny hotel that opened back in 2020 has only 4 rooms, but it\u2019s a great city getaway with green nature and a sense of sustainability.  <\/span><\/p>\n

Watch this video to get a glimpse into this cool hotel:<\/span><\/p>\n