Kamikatsu, Japan's zero waste community

In September of 2003, Kamikatsu, a small town in southwestern Japan with a population of about 2,000 residents, adopted a zero waste experiment. The plan is to produce no waste by 2020.

All residents are required to wash their recyclables, separate them into 34 different categories, and to compost all food waste. If an item is in good enough condition, it ends up at the Kuru Kuru recycling store, where residents can take whatever they please free of charge.



The Mayor, Kasamatsu Kasuichi, has urged politicians around the world to follow his example, and it seems like it has begun to catch on! GAIA, The Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives, is "Worldwide alliance of more than 650 grassroots groups, non-governmental organizations, and individuals in over 90 countries whose ultimate vision is a just, toxic-free world without incineration."

I have to admit, when I first heard about this a few years back, I thought that this would never last. I thought that people would never put up with the hassle. Now even the entire City of Austin has created a Zero Waste goal, though it is a more modest 90% reduction by 2040.
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It's so exciting to learn that at least some people are taking the initiative. I wish that I could, but I just don't have access to the necessary facilities, nor do the great majority of Americans.

If you want to start your own zero-waste experiment, why not begin with simple home composting! This Plastic GeoBin Composting System is only $29.99 from Home Depot, with free shipping!

Review: Big Ideas For a Small Planet

Big Ideas for a Small planet is a documentary series created by the Sundance channel. Each episode spotlights a different aspect of everyday life and focuses on it's environmental impact. Every topic is very specific - one episode is about the environmental impact of art. Who would have thought that art was even worth mentioning? It really makes you appreciate the small things. Thanks to this series, every time I listen to a CD, I think about everything that went into producing it, from the energy it took to record it to the plastic case it came in.

Most episodes introduce one or more Entrepreneur with an innovative idea for sustainable alternative options to a specific product. For example, one man created a business dedicated to crafting lamps out of 100% recycled materials, using old computer parts for the innards and something translucent for the shade, usually an old bottle. I found this fascinating that something so beautiful could come from junk.

That being said, many of these entrepreneurs use their time for self-promotion, rather than on the product itself. I felt that some were just money-hungry people trying to profit from the "green movement". The man with the lamps had a starting price of $55 for a small lamp. Really? I mean, I understand a slight mark-up from ordinary lamps, but this is just ridiculous.

Overall, I enjoyed watching this series. Some of the ideas may not be entirely practical or sensible, but at least it's a step in the right direction. I watched this on Netflix Instant, but unfortunately it seems that it will only be available until September 5th. The Sundance website has a ton of clips, webisodes, and information that should keep you entertained for a while (although it seems it has not been updated since season 2). Hulu also has some clips for you to check out.