Strengthening Intercity Ties to Resolve Asia’s Waste Management and Recycling Issues
―ANMC21 “Study Course: 3Rs and Waste Management” Held in Tokyo―
For a five day period from February 3rd to 7th, 2014, the Bureau of Environment of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) conducted in Tokyo the "Study Course: 3Rs* and Waste Management", which is one of the Asian Network of Major Cities 21 (ANMC21) Staff Capacity Enhancement Program. In aiming to both enhance the recycling technologies of member cities and promote waste-management policies amongst them, this program is held once annually. It targets persons responsible for waste management policy in member cities as well as technical staff who are involved in matters of recycling.
In this financial year, a total of 15 students participated in the program, from the cities of Bangkok, Delhi, Manila, Singapore and Ulaanbaatar. This report introduces the proceedings of the training program.
Site visit to Tokyo Bayside Landfill
On the first day of training, TMG lectured on the theme of the "3Rs and Waste Management in Tokyo." This lecture outlined the legal framework in Japan with respect to matters of waste management and recycling, it also gave an introduction to TMG 3R measures, etc.
From the second to fourth days, the theme of "Appropriate Management and Recycling of Home Appliances" was established, it being a topic of great interest among participants. Concerning this theme, participants from each city delivered presentations regarding the current situation in their city, and exchanged opinions each other. They also had the opportunity to visit private recycling facilities within Tokyo as well as the Tokyo Bayside Landfill Site run by the TMG. Furthermore, the participants visited Mitaka City to receive a lecture on waste reduction, and also to observe the actual procedure for sorted collection of household waste, etc.
On the final day of the course, participants made presentations and opinion exchanges based on the theme of "Installation of Disposal and Recycling Facilities in Asian Cities" with respect to the facility- establishment plans of each city and the situation regarding the leveraging of private capital in the operation of such facilities, etc.
Presentations and opinions being exchanged by the different cities
The 15 participants joined this study course, which was the largest number of participants thus far. In that the program was a very valuable occasion allowing five cities confronting different conditions to come together and exchange information and views regarding the handling of waste management from numerous perspectives.
When introducing themselves on the first day of the course, participants had been asked to describe their "favorite food." A large number of them offered Japanese cuisine such as ramen and sushi, etc., and this focus on "food" quickly lessens the distance among participants. On the evening that the program concluded as well, TMG staff and the students enjoyed together a tour to Asakusa and deepen their friendships further.
It is our hope that the participants continue to learn about their policies through the intercity links that were born out of this occasion, and also the exchanges among member cities are continued.
As a valuable place for exchanges, the TMG hopes that as many people as possible will participate in such study programs in the future!
(Comment from the Senior Director, Waste Management Division, Bureau of Environment, TMG)
In that a total of 15 participants from five countries were accepted for this study course, TMG staff members were initially somewhat daunted. However, I feel that it ended up being best described as “five days of enthusiasm.”
Concerning the features of this training program, we put a lot of effort to have participants "actually see, hear, experience and then exchange opinions on an equal basis". This concept is shown in the transformation of the program from a "training course" to a "study course." Furthermore, what we placed the greatest emphasis upon was, without further ado, offering to participants an opportunity to feel that "We had a really good time in Tokyo, and Japan" on leaving Tokyo.
To achieve this, in addition to attending program sessions, rather than just the welcoming party and farewell party, I tried to spend much time with participants eating lunch, and going out to TOKYO SKYTREE Town to have the experience of eating okonomiyaki together because I wanted them to like Tokyo.
It was a very meaningful and wonderful five days.
Furthermore, I look forward to making many new friends at the next training program.
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