The world’s most “economical” hotel in Japan

In 2003, Kamikatsu became the first municipality in Japan to implement a zero-waste policy. Since then, the town has converted its outdoor incineration operations for waste treatment into a collection, consumption and disposal system with the goal of achieving carbon neutrality. Now, the town estimates that it is more than 80 percent of the way to that goal by 2030.

With more than half of the residents over the age of 65, the rural community here is rapidly shrinking. The town is working with manufacturers to encourage them to use more recyclable materials, which will help reduce waste and burning.

However, Kamikatsu residents have a lot to share about sustainable living, many of which they have adopted that can be replicated in major cities.

Recycle waste in 45 different ways

The town’s Recycled Waste Center, where residents can sort their trash into 45 categories. There are 9 ways to sort paper products before they throw the rest into piles for the incinerator. Residents clean and dry dirty items to make them suitable for recycling.

The town offers a system in which people can collect recycling points in exchange for eco-friendly products. There are signs describing what new items will be made from recycled items and how much money the town will save. It is a way to remind people of their social responsibility.

“Residents cooperating will reduce the amount of money used for recycling,” said Momona Otsuka, the center’s 24-year-old environmental director.

Two things are key to creating a widespread recycling culture: policies, such as Japan’s 1997 law giving towns and cities the authority to recycle waste, and the cooperation of people to recycle waste. people”.

Kuru Kuru . thrift store

Attached to the Recycled Waste Center is a thrift store where residents can drop off items they no longer want and others can pick them up for free. All they need to do is weigh the items they take from the store and record the weight in a ledger so the store can track the volume of the items being reused.

In January alone, items worth around £985 were bought back, ranging from unused batteries and sake glasses to furniture, women’s clothing and toys.

The shop “kuru kuru”, or “round and round” in Japanese, is itself made from recycled objects. “We also tried to express the idea of ​​zero waste through architecture,” says Otsuka.

Craft Brewery

Rise and Win Brewing Co. produces two zero-waste craft beers, made from farm-grown crops that were rejected for being too bad. The brewery cooperates with various companies to use leftover food ingredients. This brewery is also made of waste materials.

For years, the brewery has been trying to find an efficient way to donate grain left over from brewing. They make compost and deliver fertilizer to farmers. Last year, they developed a method of converting spent grain into liquid fertilizer, which is then used to grow barley for beer.

Hotels Why?

Hotels Why? opened in 2020 as part of the Zero Waste Center facility. It is built in the shape of a question mark to portray the question: Why do we create so much waste?

Each guest is given six bins to sort trash during their stay. The beautiful decorations are all recycled materials, including a patchwork quilt made from scrap denim and a wall mural made from rope.

The hotel insists on using only what guests need. Upon check-in, guests cut each bar of soap to get the required quantity for their stay. Coffee beans are ground based on the amount the customer wants, so as not to waste.