2. Toward the improvement of waste management
2. Toward the improvement of waste management
2.1 Five points to note for having waste management sustained in regional communities
People tend to focus only on composting because composting contributed greatly toward theimprovement of waste management in Surabaya City. However, other factors also need to beacknowledged. Five points are presented below based on the example in Surabaya City, for having waste
management improvement sustained in regional communities.
iStrong involvement by the local government

Since the local government should manage wastes at their responsibilities, the government is required
to be determined and exercise leadership for its improvement. (By providing guidance to companies,
organizing residents, enacting municipal ordinances, etc.)
ii

Acquisition of deficient resources

Resources necessary for waste management improvement, such as technologies, know-how,equipment and materials, should be made available along with funds. Especially, knowledge gainedneeds to be converted to wisdom. If a community is unable to obtain these on its own, cooperation andaid should be sought.
iii Inducing appropriate technologies
Appropriate technologies necessary and suited to the region need be induced. Although people tend toseek for advanced technologies and equipment, efforts for continuity, maintenance, improvement, etc.
are required after their introduction. In other words, technologies that may be sustained in the regionneed to be induced.
iv Participation by residents
Efforts should be given for promoting participation by residents and keeping them motivated, in away suited to the region. (Organization of residents) It is a characteristic of domestic wastes that
although the amount generated from each household is small, the sources of wastes spread planarly andthe volume becomes huge when totaled. There is a Japanese saying that "even dust becomes a mountainwhen piled together." The lifestyle of residents needs to change from that based on mass consumption
and disposal to that based on the 3Rs.
v

Sustainment

Continued efforts are important for improving waste management. Also, wastes are always generated
from our production activities and consumption. Collaboration and actions are necessary by all the
stakeholders of the region, or the local government, companies, local organizations, residents, etc. A
system of collaboration should be built, instead of relying on activities by individuals. (Organization ofresidents/ collaboration among diverse stakeholders)1© 2019 Koji Takakura2. Toward the improvement of waste management
2.2 Attempts for improving waste management in Surabaya CityA specific example in Surabaya City is presented below. The readers are asked to use it as a tip for
improving waste management.
2.2.1 The City government declared to "aim at urban development considerate for the green
environment and hygiene," as an administrative measure
In Surabaya City, domestic wastes accounted for 78% of all the wastes. For this reason, Green Clean
Campaign was implemented as a main measure for improving waste management, in which the following
five activities were attempted at a community level. The communities that scored high were granted prize
money and a certificate, along with a social status by being featured in the mass media, etc. The campaign
later gained momentum, and disseminated to schools and companies also.
i

Waste management (sorting, appropriate treatment, composting, clarification of discharged
amount)ii Recycling (collection and sales of recyclable wastes, production and sales of sundries)iii Hygiene (keeping streets and gutters clean)iv Planting and greeningv Toilet and bathroom management (cleanliness and prevention of Dengue fever)Photograph 2-1 Greening the community

Photograph 2-2 Clean and green communities

using the finished compost

are emerging one after another

The campaign stimulated the competitive spirit
among communities, resulting in communities filledwith greeneries to emerge one after another. People
used to purchase compost for greening, but now, they
all bring together their home-made compost.
The champion of the campaign expressed joy as if
they became a World Cup champion.

Photograph 2-3 Champion in the campaign

2© 2019 Koji Takakura2. Toward the improvement of waste management
A system of collaboration was built between the local government and residents, for promoting the
campaign. For the purpose, the mass media also joined for publicity on and dissemination of the attempt,
along with women’s associations and NGOs that cooperated. To be noted particularly is that companies
offered support for human resources development and operational know-how, from the start of thecampaign.

Collaboration among the local
government, citizens and companies
Support by andcollaboration withcompanies thatpossess know-how

Surabaya City

Environment Facilitators
Environment Leaders

Surabaya City
government

Residents recommended
by the community

Guidance for conducting
Green Clean Campaign

Training leadersParticipation to environmental management and waste management

Residents

Potentially interested about the environment
Not interested about the environment

Residents

Awareness enhancement/publicity activities
Spreading among people in the area

Fig. 2-1 Organization diagram for implementing the campaign

Environment Facilitators and Environment Leaders make actions as instructed by the local government
and are offered small rewards. As such, they may be regarded as a part of the local governmentorganization, but they are more like volunteers. They are similar to the head of a neighborhood associationin Japan. By the way, Environment Facilitators are coordinators of Environment Leaders.
In 2014, 29,000 Environment Leaders were trained and assigned to 9,271 communities populated by 3.12
million people. On the average, three Environment Leaders were assigned to each community. Eachenvironment leader is in charge of about 110 residents, and is engaged in activities to promote the Green
Clean Campaign, and instruct and provide follow-up for the residents.

3© 2019 Koji Takakura2. Toward the improvement of waste management
Today, Green Clean Campaign has become one of the major festivals of Surabaya City, and is being
featured often in the media.

Photograph 2-4 Scenes from the campaign

4© 2019 Koji Takakura2. Toward the improvement of waste management
2.2.2 Filling the technical insufficiency for implementing Green Clean Campaign
In the campaign, the five items, namely the waste management (sorting, appropriate treatment,
composting and clarification of discharged amount), recycling (collection and sales of recyclable wastes,
production and sales of sundries), hygiene (keeping streets and gutters clean), planting and greening, andtoilet and bathroom management (sanitation and prevention of Dengue fever) have been attempted. Amongthese, composting did not make progress at all. The people were unable to produce high-quality compost ina short period of time with the existing composting technology.
Thus, Takakura Composting Method was developed as an appropriate composting technology, of which
the effects have been appraised highly by diverse people involved. Not only the Surabaya City government
recommended the Takakura Composting Method, distributed it free of charge and disseminated information
through the campaign and other occasions, but also residents made similar products and recommended their
use to friends and neighbors. Furthermore, composting that was promoted through the campaign wasdeveloped into a municipal ordinance as a method of waste management. The awareness used to be low
among the people on raw garbage sorting because composting of raw garbage was not possible in the past.
However, more and more people started raw garbage sorting because now they are able to make highquality compost from it. Collection of recyclable wastes and greening were promoted as a result, which inturn boosted the campaign.
The

Environment

Leaders

demonstrated

theircapabilities here also. Takakura Composting Method isa simple technology that rarely results in failure.
However, inconveniences such as rising of odor could
result if used in a wrong way, causing some people togive up using the system. By applying little tips
additionally, composting is likely to progress smoothly.
As more Environment Leaders learned the Takakura
Composting Method and made efforts for enhancing
awareness, introducing the technology and providing
advices and follow-up, etc. to residents, more residents

Photograph 2-5 Environment leaders active

started composting and a greater number of them has

in communities

continued with it.
Environment Leaders use not only compost containers distributed free of charge by the Surabaya City
government, but also make their own compost containers using handy containers around them. Sometimes
housewives in the neighborhood gather and teach the method of composting to each other.

5© 2019 Koji Takakura2. Toward the improvement of waste management

Photograph 2-6 Mini seminar on composting

Photograph 2-7 Composting seminar held infor housewives in the neighborhood

a community

Photograph 2-8 Compost containers readyPhotograph 2-9 Compost container produced

to be distributedby the leader on her initiative

Photograph 2-10 Example of compost

Photograph 2-11 Example of compost

containers in the Philippines

containers in Nepal

6© 2019 Koji Takakura2. Toward the improvement of waste management
Here is a point of caution. There is a limit to the amount of wastes that may be reduced just bycomposting household raw garbage, and composting needs to be combined with diverse measures for
reducing the amount of wastes.
The number of Takakura Composting Methods disseminated in Surabaya City as of 2014, including
similar self-made containers, is estimated to be 57,100. Since the amount of household raw garbage treatedby composting is 0.84 kg/day on the average, the reduced amount may be calculated as 57,100 x 0.84
kg/day = 48 ton/day. On the other hand, the amount of wastes disposed by landfill was 241 ton/day(between 2006 and 2014). Therefore, the direct contribution ratio toward waste reduction by composting isonly 19.9%. Proactive efforts need to be given also for collecting recyclable wastes and suppressing
generation of wastes, at the same time composting raw garbage.
Here, an effective role has been played by "waste bank system" for enhancing the awareness on
recyclable waste collection and suppression of waste generation. The waste bank is "a system in which
recyclable wastes sorted by residents at their home are purchased, being operated by a community, local
government, university, NGO, etc. A passbook is issued to anyone who wishes to have one, just as withordinary banks. When residents bring in valuable items to the office of waste bank, the amount is filled in
the passbook without making a cash payment each time, which may be withdrawn like a ‘deposit’ on a later
date when the resident wishes."
There has been a system for residents to directly deal with waste collectors for selling recyclable wastes.
However, wastes were traded at any price specified by the waste collectors, because residents do not haveknow-how on price negotiation. At waste banks, recyclable wastes are accumulated and exclusive staff
negotiate on the prices so the wastes may be traded at high prices. As a result, residents can have wastes
purchased by the waste bank at higher prices than before. The waste bank is being operated based on the
difference in the sales prices to waste collectors and the purchasing price from residents.
Local residents had no habit of saving, and tended to spend without planning whenever they earned arevenue. By saving, they can prepare for urgent spending such as sudden illness of a family member andpayment of tuitions, in a planned manner.
Green Clean Campaign contributes toward not only the improvement of waste management but also thecommunity empowerment through which improvement in the community environment and quality of life
may be expected. Takakura Method contributed greatly for promoting these efforts.

7© 2019 Koji Takakura2. Toward the improvement of waste management
Waste bank
A waste bank uses a building in the community, where residents bring in recyclable wastes on a set date
and time and the recyclable wastes are sorted and their weight measured and recorded in the passbook foreach waste category. There is also an awareness enhancement bulletin board on the 3Rs in the waste bank,where sundries made from recycled wastes are displayed and sold.

Photograph 2-12 Bringing in recyclable

Photograph 2-13 Measuring the weight ofwastes into a waste bankrecyclable wastes

Photograph 2-14 Waste bank passbooks

Photograph 2-15 Awareness enhancement(example)bulletin board on the 3Rs

Photograph 2-16 Rug made from instant

Photograph 2-17 Instant coffee plastic bags

coffee plastic bags

8

© 2019 Koji Takakura2. Toward the improvement of waste management
2.2.3 Improvement and expansion of compost centers
After acquiring knowledge, know-how and experiences in composting, the Surabaya City government
has also endeavored to improve and expand composting centers that were no longer operable with theexisting composting technologies. The composted wastes include those from markets as well as cut
branches, fallen leaves and other wastes that increase as greening progressed in the City.
A notable feature of the improvement and expansion efforts was that small compost centers with theprocessing capacity of about 6 m3/day each were established at 23 dispersed locations in the City (thecapacity totaling 147 m3/day), using unused land lots and facilities (buildings). At compost centers ingeneral, each of them prepares a balance sheet separately from a viewpoint of "manufacturing and selling a
product named compost." However, balance sheet is not the only outcome that is sought here, because themajor objective is to improve waste management and the environment and create jobs by reducing andrecycling organic wastes and promoting greening in the City.
By establishing small-scale compost centers, they are positioned as the compost center of respective
communities. A significant merit here is that jobs are created within the community.

Table 2-1 Comparison of Compost Center Scale
Item

Securing of a site

Large-scale compost center
Sought in suburbs of a city but difficult
to find.

plant construction and development ofcarry-in roads and others in thesurroundings.

Traffic access(carry-in of goods bytrucks)
Personnel cost

Unused land lots and facilities(buildings) are used, including those in

Mainly constructed manually, and noplant or large, heavy machinery isneeded.

Wastes from greening are carried infrom all parts of the city.

Wastes are carried into the compost

Traffic congestion and air pollution bycenter in the neighborhood.

exhaust gases result.
For about 100 workers (however, theFor about 10 staff memberssite offers job opportunities)

The motive power costs andOperation costs(at 23 locations)the city center.

Tend to be high, including those forConstruction costs

Small-scale compost center

maintenance and management costs are
high.

9

Most of the work is performed manuallyand is lower in costs.

© 2019 Koji Takakura2. Toward the improvement of waste management

Photograph 2-18 Carrying in wastes from

Photograph 2-19 Small-scale compost

greening

centerThere are example of communities establishing theircompost centers at their costs. In other words, not only
domestic-type but also compost center-type composting
technologies have taken roots in the communities, andbeen disseminated by their initiatives.

Photograph 2-20 Community leaders studying
on establishment of a compost center

2.2.4 Development and operation of recyclable waste sorting and collection center and large-scale
compost center
While the Surabaya City government is giving all its efforts for disseminating Green Clean Campaign,wastes that are not properly sorted have been found. Large volumes of vegetable wastes have generated
from large-scale markets, which small-scale compost centers have not been able to deal with sufficiently.
As a measure to deal with the issue, a recyclable waste sorting and collection center and a large-scale
compost center (with the processing capacity of 50 ton/day) have been established for treating the sorted
organic wastes and vegetable wastes from markets.
The basics is to have wastes sorted at households where they are generated for collecting resources andcomposting. However, a system has also been established for accepting and recycling mixed wastes from
communities where wastes have not been sorted properly.

10© 2019 Koji Takakura2. Toward the improvement of waste management

Photograph 2-22 Large-scale compost center

Photograph 2-21 Recyclable wastes sortingand collection center

There are also cases where comprehensive composting at a compost center has proven more suitable thanattempting composting at individual households. By learning the basics of composting based on the
Takakura Composting Method discussed in this textbook, optimization is sufficiently possible forcomposting of any method or scale.

Photograph 2-23 Example of compost center

Photograph 2-24 Example of compost centerin Bolivia

in Ecuador

Photograph 2-25 Example of compost center

Photograph 2-26 Example of compost centerin the Philippines

in Vietnam11© 2019 Koji Takakura2. Toward the improvement of waste management
2.3 Purpose of composting of raw garbage
So far, composting of raw garbage that accounts for 50% or more of wastes and has delayed in recycling
has been discussed from a viewpoint of waste management improvement that may promote reduction andrecycling of overall wastes. However, its purpose has been misunderstood in many cases. The true purposemust include not only the manufacture of compost from raw garbage, but also the use of compost.
2.3.1 Using compost
Efforts for composting raw garbage would be meaningless unless the resulting compost products areused. Otherwise, the manufactured compost would not find a place for use and the products pile up in awarehouse, to be disposed of as wastes. Since the word "disposed" is inappropriate, it is sometimes
expressed as "being used as a covering soil material at a landfill disposal site." However, it is not hard to
imagine how the motivation of staff at the site would be affected, if the produced compost needs to be
carried to a landfill disposal site using money, labor and energy.
Farm products have yielded greater volumes of crops as a result of breed improvement, increasing thedemands on fertilizer components for these farm products. A great amount of chemical fertilizers has beenused for responding to the demands, but this resulted in exhaustion of more and more precious humus in thesoil of fields. The soft soil of farmlands has hardened and as a result growth of farm products has been
hindered, causing the yields to decline. This leads to the use of a greater amount of chemical fertilizers.
Here is formed a vicious cycle. In order to break away from the vicious cycle, infusion of organic
substances, or especially use of high-quality compost, would be effective. Use of compost is indispensable
for sustainable agriculture.
Where, then, can the source materials for producing compost may be obtained? Livestock feces, humus,
cut branches, food factories and many others can be named as the sources. However, the amount is limited.
On the other hand, raw garbage is generated wherever people live, although the amounts might differ. The
raw garbage should be used wisely as a source material. The idea necessary here is, as is frequently said,
that "garbage is garbage if mixed, but is a resource if sorted properly."
Production of high-quality compost from sorted raw garbage would contribute toward sustainableagriculture also.
2.3.2 Cost burden for composting
How should we organize our thoughts about the costs for composting raw garbage? If large-scale
composting was attempted at a composting plant, the balance needs to be calculated for all the processes
from collection and transport of raw garbage to composting, market distribution and sales, for securing
profits. The matter has been discussed this way in many cases. It is indeed a correct approach in view ofbusiness operations.

12© 2019 Koji Takakura2. Toward the improvement of waste management
However, it started for improving waste management through reduction and recycling of wastes and for
dealing with the lack of landfill disposal sites that has been an urgent issue. The composting costs need tobe compared with the costs needed for collection and transport of wastes to a landfill disposal site,
establishment of new final disposal sites and maintenance and management of closed final disposal sites.
We tend to think that composting must yield business profits because a product named compost is made,but this is an illusion. However, clarification and optimization of costs would be necessary from a businessviewpoint, for establishment of and overall operations of a compost center.
2.3.3 Method for inducing appropriate technologies
The author has named inducing of appropriate technologies among the five points for having waste
management sustained in the region. The basic idea for inducing appropriate technologies is discussed
here, using cooking as an example that greatly helps to make my points clear.
Here, let me use a dish "chicken piccata" as an example. (My favorite dish)1. Basic method to cook chicken piccata(1) Cut chicken into bite-size pieces.
(2) Sprinkle salt and pepper on the cut surfaces, for seasoning the chicken meat.
(3) Coat the chicken pieces with flour.
(4) Pass the chicken pieces through beaten eggs.
(5) Heat a flying pan and pour in oil.
(6) Brown both sides of the chicken pieces.
(7) Clean the flying pan, and prepare the sauce.
(8) Place the chicken pieces on a plate and pour the sauce.

Photograph 2-27 Examples of dishes of cooked chicken piccata13© 2019 Koji Takakura2. Toward the improvement of waste management(1) Chicken meat portions
Four types, namely[1] Breast meat[2] Chicken tender(2) Seasoning
Seven types, namely[1] Salt and pepper[2] Curry powder[5] Garlic [6] Yogurt[7] Miso[3] Legs[4] Chicken wing

[3] Sugar[4] Soy sauce(3) Coating the chicken meat
Seven types, namely[1] Flour [2] Rice flour[5] Corn flour[3] Dogtooth violet starch[6] Potato flour[4] Buckwheat flour[7] Sweet potato flour14© 2019 Koji Takakura2. Toward the improvement of waste management(7) Sauce
Ten types, namely[1] Butter [2] Soy sauce [3] Curry [4] Worcester sauce[5] Mayonnaise[6] Catsup [7] Chinese soup
[8] Bouillon[9] Demiglace [10] Herb

(8) Dish up
Relish that accompany chicken piccata, such as boiled vegetables and fresh salad,and types of plate used could vary. However, it is assumed there is only one typehere.

As shown above, replaceable items have been named for each of the steps (1) to (8). Maybe it can be
described as having resolved the processes into factors. Let us now look at how the replaceable itemsof steps (1) to (8) may be combined. Simply in mathematical terms, 4x7x7x3x8x3x10x1 = 141,120, or
14,120 types of chicken piccata may be prepared. The number would increase further if combinations
within each category were considered.
2. Inducing appropriate technologies
The same idea may be applied to the candidates of appropriate technologies.
(1) Resolve the technologies considered to be induced into processes, and list replaceable items foreach.
(2) Select the replaceable items to suit the situations at the site, and combine them to generate several
candidates of appropriate technologies.
(3) Select the optimum technology based on tests at the site, etc.
Resolution of technologies into factors and combining them is not the only method for arriving at an
appropriate technology. However, systematic thinking might lead to a discovery you had never thoughtof.
The starting point is to fully understand basic theories of the technologies. Without understanding thebasic theories, resolution of the technologies into factors would not be possible.

15© 2019 Koji Takakura2. Toward the improvement of waste management

By the way, my best chicken piccata is made with:(Garlic andsoy sauce)
Chicken tender

Buckwheat flour Olive oil  medium  butter sauce

Quail’s eggs

= My delicious chicken
piccata has been finished

Reference:• Koji Takakura: Kaigai Gijutsu Kyoryoku wo Tsuujita Takakura-shiki Konposuto no Gijutsu Iten ni
Kansuru Kenkyu (A Study on Technological Transfer for Takakura Composting Method throughOverseas Technological Cooperation), doctoral thesis, Graduate School of Life Science andSystems Engineering, Kyushu Institute of Technology, May 201616

© 2019 Koji Takakura