# Instilling a 3R Mindset by Utilizing Regional Experiences

In Naha City (Okinawa, Japan), the 3Rs have become firmly established as citizen activities. Citizens, the government, and corporations work together to form a sound material-cycle society. This has led to a reduction in the volume of waste generated. Vietnam's Hoi An City and Malaysia's Sabah State had the challenge of trying to enhance people's awareness about waste, in other words the "citizens' mindset." To address this issue, Naha City introduced its experiences with 3R activities and carried out a local project for citizens to support effective promotion of the 3Rs.

This project was proposed by Naha City and citizen

Landfill tour as environmental education for children

Source: Okinawa Citizens' Recycling Movement

## (4) Toward Future Development

Japan experienced various waste problems corresponding to its economic development and has a history of solving such problems. As a result, Japan's venous industries have accumulated a wide variety of technologies, ranging from today's cutting-edge technologies to technologies that deliver only the minimum necessary functions. Establishment of a legal system and its proper enforcement are essential for appropriate treatment and cyclical use of waste. And Japan is also cooperating with other countries in Asia to develop such legal systems.

Against the backdrop of Japan’s waste treatment and recycling technologies and international cooperation in the development of legal systems for building a sound material-cycle society, programs are to be carried out in 2011 to actively support the overseas expansion of Japan’s venous industries. Assistance for business expansion feasibility studies has been provided to an initial group of venous industries in other countries. Support is also

group A. It was adopted as a JICA Grassroots Technical Cooperation Project (regional-proposal type). During a three-year period that began in FY 2008, 13 people from local governments and NGOs in Vietnam and Malaysia who were in charge of solid waste visited Japan to attend lectures and receive training in the 3Rs. Experts were sent to the two countries to provide human resource training for 3R promotion through discussions, advice, and so forth. Through this project, planning and environmental education programs modeled after Naha are being carried out in both countries.

Campaign to stop the use of plastic bags

Source: Okinawa Citizens' Recycling Movement

being provided for the establishment of a new corporate cyclical business model in order to nurture next-generation venous industries.

In addition, in line with the Industrial Structure Vision 2010 put together in June 2010 by the Industrial Structure Council, the government will actively support expansion of Japan's recycling industry into the rest of Asia. This is being executed through an Asian eco-town cooperation project (since 2007), an Asian resources cycle demonstration project (since 2009), and a study to promote the export of infrastructure and systems (feasibility study to be conducted by a recycling company).

Japan will introduce its venous industries to other countries by integrating its technologies and systems into a package and utilizing it to solve the waste problems that Asian countries currently face or are likely face in the future, in order to contribute to conservation of the world’s environment.