Tokyo Declaration
Today people are sharing common sense of value and influencing each other more
often than before in Asia, where an incident in a country tends to bring about a serious
impact on the lives of citizens for their production and consumption in other countries
as the people, the goods and the means of production are being transferred dynamically
across national borders.
In the field of solid waste management as well, we are having an increasing numberof such issues to be shared as to how to tackle to common challenges in solid waste
management, which is symbolized by the 3R Initiative, how to effectively and mutuallytransfer experience and technology of solid waste management, and how to make use ofknowledge and expertise in protecting the citizens from disaster-generated solid wastethat results from the earthquakes and floods that we have suffered recently.
In such a situation, the Participants of the 4th 3R Conference for Asia Local
Government held on January 30 and 31 in Tokyo have agreed that the discussions oneach of the three topics were important to be shared, and that the outcome needs to bedisseminated extensively to the Asian countries in a mutually cooperative manner.
To promote the 3R, it is important to engage in a scheme integrating not only
resources recycling but also biodiversity conservation and realization of a low carbon
society. In adition, it is necessary for local governments to make the most of thisnetwork to promote an effective two-wheel policy; one is to receive cooperation fromcitizens and buisinesses while at times giving incentive to them, the other is to develop
relevant technologies. Thus the local governments have confirmed that they should befully committed to establishing a resources recycling system, to reducing final disposalvolumes, to assuring core treatment functions, and to efficiently using resources andenergy.
To accelerate technological transfer, it is crucial for businesses with high technology tointeract with one another. On the recipient side, it is important for the government toprovide a proper environment if a business uses specific technology to be viable. So it isoften the case that a proper legal framework or a well-established collection system isessential for waste treatment or recycling businesses to be sustainable. For this reason,
it is indispensable for the local governments, who understand well about theirtechnological reliability and environmental impact and also play the role ofimprovement in legal framework and collection system, to join in the network together

with the businesses and to share their knowledge and experiences. Thus the local
governments have confirmed that it is important for them to support businesses aswell as to improve the environment for the relevant businesses to be viable, in order toestablish extensive trust-based relationships among local administrations, which have
responsibility for solid waste management, by way of such measures as promotion of
eco-town projects or dissemination of efficient technology for the treatment of organic
solid waste.
To dispose of disaster-generated solid waste is a first step to rehabilitation andreconstruction of the cities. To facilitate the treatment of solid waste of disaster-origin,
it is necessary to form an extensive team of stakeholders, including local government
officers, citizens, researchers and engineers, who get together across their city borders,to collaborate to commit themselves. Thus the local governments have confirmed that
it is important for them to share the rare experiences by recording them, and to be fully
equipped for all eventualities.
Today the participants of the 4th 3R Conference for Asia Local Governments haveagreed that they will make utmost efforts in order to achieve 3R in their own country as
well as in Asian Region, and to promote the mutual cooperation and exchange ofexpericences. We believe this result should be disseminated to other cities in Asia.
Lastly we sincerely hope that this Meeting will continue to develop further in thecoming future.
January 31, 2012