Fukuoka City Municipal Solid Waste Management Master Plan
(Revision: June 1998)
Environment Bureau, Fukuoka City, Japan
INTRODUCTION
This plan has been designed after a review by the Fukuoka City Solid Waste Disposal Facility Construction Research Committee, Special Council in order to ensure a closer linkage with the future improvement and construction of waste disposal facilities.
It is claimed that the current citizens' lives are at a very high standard, and that our lifestyle of seeking affluence and convenience inevitably leads to mass production, mass consumption and mass waste. These circumstances have gradually caused an increase in the amount of garbage exceeding the capacity of current disposal plants. The garbage disposal problem has been considered to be one of the environmental issues in the preservation of limited natural resources. A shift from the conventional disposal approach, burning and land filling the refuse to the new circulation-oriented concept, reducing the refuse volume and promoting recycling while utilizing the excess heat generated from incineration is seriously demanded. Fukuoka City has actively conducted a range of measures for reducing refuse volume and for promoting recycling. These measures include the collection of ferrous metal and aluminum at the Recycling Center, supporting local group collections and instructing corporations in methods for reducing corporate refuse, on top of its systematic improvement in disposal facilities. However, now that the incineration capacity of the disposal plants has now reached its limit due to the increase of combustible refuse, further steps for refuse reduction and recycling are immediately required. A prompt response to "the regulations for promoting separate collections and for recycling related to containers and packaging (Container and Packaging Recycling Act)” is also needed.
Under these circumstances, the Refuse Reduction Special Council was set up in November 1994 as a sectional council of the Fukuoka City Refuse Reduction and Recycle Council to overview the measures that the city should conduct. In March 1996, the "Report on the Policy for Refuse Reduction and Process for Recycling Container and Packaging Waste" was prepared. With this report, taking into account the objectives of the Seventh Fukuoka City Master Plan, Environment Basic Regulations and Environment Master Plan, the city should try to seek for and ensure a resource recycling society, as well as a long-term and stable refuse disposal system. Citizens, corporations and administrations should work together to produce less refuse in the city and to establish a disposal system which ensures the reuse and utilization of refuse.
This Master Plan is the mid- and long-term plan for refuse disposal for the coming 10 to 15 years (including disposal by the city and out source entities). Designed in April 1993, the "Fukuoka City Municipal Solid Waste Management Master Plan" is now being revised taking into consideration various changes such as the social situation. Fukuoka City has developed as a hub city of Western Japan while completing and improving the city infrastructure. Together with its progress in urbanization, the refuse volume has also increased, especially that for combustible refuse such as scrap paper due to the emergence of the office-automation and information-oriented society and the use of disposable plastic containers. In reference to table-1, over the 10 years from 1986 to 1996, the refuse volume has increased by 29 %, which is 175 thousand MT in quantity. For the yearly mean, the increase rate shows 3.4 % on average, which is three times larger than the growth rate of the population (1.0%). In the past several years, the growth rate has stabilised at 2% per year; however, it is still showing a tendency to increase which requires us to work on reducing the refuse volume.
Table-1 Trend in Municipal Waste Generation Amount
Category / Refuse Volume / PopulationDomestic waste (MT) / Industrial waste (MT) / * Others (MT) / Refuse brought from outside the city (MT) / Total
(MT) / Growth rate
(%) / Population
(thousands) / Growth rate
(%)
1987 / 283,398 / 278,659 / 11,797 / 26,622 / 600,476 / 7.7 / 1,193 / 1.4
1988 / 295,006 / 287,901 / 8,661 / 28,915 / 620,483 / 3.3 / 1,208 / 1.2
1989 / 308,880 / 300,942 / 8,264 / 32,446 / 650,532 / 4.8 / 1,224 / 1.3
1990 / 315,590 / 313,398 / 7,921 / 33,584 / 670,493 / 3.1 / 1,237 / 1.1
1991 / 327,186 / 341,017 / 8,798 / 36,106 / 713,107 / 6.4 / 1,250 / 1.1
1992 / 330,697 / 335,989 / 7,920 / 37,638 / 712,244 / -0.1 / 1,263 / 1.0
1993 / 347,011 / 336,656 / 7,789 / 39,455 / 730,911 / 2.6 / 1,271 / 0.6
1994 / 357,669 / 337,433 / 7,594 / 41,324 / 744,020 / 1.8 / 1,278 / 0.6
1995 / 359,996 / 347,681 / 7,458 / 43,489 / 758,624 / 2.0 / 1,285 / 0.5
1996 / 376,296 / 344,528 / 6,797 / 47,874 / 775,495 / 2.2 / 1,296 / 0.9
* Others include the refuse from cleaning roads, streets and trash bins, piled refuse and refuse from skimming the rivers.
1.THE CURRENT CONDITION OF DOMESTIC WASTE
Domestic refuse is collected on a regular basis by the city, except for the outlying islands, and brought to the municipal disposal plants. Glass bottles are collected at 100 key locations such as supermarkets within the city. The trial separate collection of glass bottles and PET bottles began in the designated districts in January 1997. The conventional two-way separate collection system (combustible refuse, and noncombustible with bulky refuse) shifted into the three-way separate collection system (combustible refuse, noncombustible and bulky refuse) in October 1997. The domestic refuse volume was about 376 thousand MT in 1996, which shows an increase of approx. 33% compared to that of 1987 and an increase of approx. 3.7% in the yearly mean (See table-2). The composition of domestic combustible refuse (survey in 1995 in reference to table-3) is about 30% scrap paper, 13% plastic, 47% kitchen waste and 3.7% noncombustible refuse mixed together. Domestic noncombustible and bulky refuse (survey in 1994in reference to table-4) consists of 39% noncombustible, and 28% bulky and 32.4% of the combustible refuse such as newspapers mixed together. The exhaustive separate disposal system should be further promoted together with educational activities on recycling.
Table-2 Trends in Domestic Refuse
Category / Combustible refuse (MT) / Noncombustible refuse and bulky refuse (MT) / Total(MT) / Growth rate from the previous year
(%)
1987 / 219,481 / 63,917 / 283,398 / 7.8
1988 / 228,684 / 66,322 / 295,006 / 4.1
1989 / 236,858 / 72,022 / 308,880 / 4.7
1990 / 239,003 / 76,587 / 315,590 / 2.2
1991 / 243,527 / 83,659 / 327,186 / 3.7
1992 / 247,996 / 82,701 / 330,697 / 1.1
1993 / 252,495 / 94,516 / 347,011 / 4.9
1994 / 260,707 / 96,962 / 357,669 / 3.1
1995 / 270,352 / 89,644 / 359,996 / 0.7
1996 / 279,864 / 96,432 / 376,296 / 4.5
Remarks: The amount of noncombustible refuse and bulky refuse in 1996 includes 367 MT of glass bottles, 3 MT of glass bottles collected at key locations and PET bottles collected through the trial separate collection project.
Table-3 Composition of Domestic
Combustible Refuse
Category / Ratio (%)Scrap paper / 30.49
Plastic / 13.41
Kitchen waste / 47.34
Rags / 2.23
Rubber and leather / 0.15
Other combustible refuse / 2.70
Noncombustible refuse / 3.68
Total / 100
(according to a fact-finding investigation in 1995)
Table-4 Composition of Domestic
Noncombustible & Bulky Refuse
Category / Ratio (%)Bulky refuse / 28.20
Noncombustible refuse / 39.40
(Glass) / (21.60)
(Metal) / (12.27)
(Others) / (5.53)
Combustible refuse / 32.40
Total / 100
(according to a fact-finding investigation in 1994)
2.THE CURRENT CONDITION OF INDUSTRIAL REFUSE
The refuse resulting from business activities of corporations and retail stores (except for industrial waste) is collected by the general refuse collectors approved by the city mayor and brought to the municipal disposal plants. The remaining refuse is self-delivered by the corporations. Directly operated collectors collect the refuse from city government offices. As seen in table-5, corporate refuse was about 345 thousand MT in 1996, which was an increase of 24% and 66 thousand MT compared to 1987. This is an increase of about 3.0 % yearly, of which the majority part is brought to the disposal plants as combustible refuse. The composition of corporate refuse (see table-6) is 44% scrap paper, 16% plastic, 30% kitchen waste and 5.4% noncombustible refuse mixed together. 24.2% of recyclable refuse is also contained in corporate refuse and more thoroughgoing instruction for separate disposal, refuse reduction and recycling is needed.
Table-5 Trends in Corporate Refuse
Category / Collection by the approved collectors and directly operated collectors (MT) / Self-delivered(MT) / Total
(MT) / Increase and decrease from the previous year
(%)
1987 / 140,367 / 138,292 / 278,659 / 8.4
1988 / 150,954 / 136,947 / 287,901 / 3.3
1989 / 161,200 / 139,742 / 300,942 / 4.5
1990 / 164,340 / 149,058 / 313,398 / 4.1
1991 / 170,061 / 170,956 / 341,017 / 8.8
1992 / 173,611 / 162,378 / 335,989 / -1.5
1993 / 176,316 / 160,340 / 336,656 / 0.2
1994 / 181,724 / 155,709 / 337,433 / 0.2
1995 / 189,981 / 157,700 / 347,681 / 3.0
1996 / 197,963 / 146,565 / 344,528 / -0.9
Table-6
Composition of corporate refuse
Category / Ratio (%)Scrap paper / 43.75
Plastic / 15.85
Kitchen waste / 29.68
Rags / 2.05
Rubber and leather / 1.57
Other combustible refuse / 1.67
Noncombustible refuse / 5.43
Total / 100
Category / Ratio (%)
Newspapers and cardboard / 20.48
PET bottles and trays / 0.12
Glass bottles / 0.45
Cans / 2.93
Rags / 0.23
Total / 24.21
(according to a fact-finding investigation in 1995)
Recyclable material among the left table items
3.THE CURRENT CONDITION OF REFUSE DISPOSAL
Fukuoka City has proceeded with the systematic improvement of the final disposal plants for incineration and landfills in order to ensure a stable refuse disposal system. Handling and disposal of refuse should be conducted in a non-toxic, hygienic way so as to not interfere with the living environment, and a great deal of effort is needed to reduce the final refuse volume. The outline of refuse disposal in Fukuoka City is as follows. Combustible refuse is incinerated at the disposal plants and disposed of in the landfill sites in order to enhance hygienic disposal as well as to reduce refuse volume and contents. The excess heat generated by incineration is utilized for power generation and hot-water supplies for the surrounding facilities. The city has also proceeded with the "Green Recycle Project" in which trimmed branches are used as a soil conditioner and scrap timber is sorted into valuable wood materials. Noncombustible and bulky refuse are crushed and sorted at the recycling centers into ferrous metal and aluminum. The combustible part is incinerated and the noncombustible refuse is disposed of in the landfill sites. The glass bottles collected at key locations, such as at supermarkets within the city, are transferred to collection merchants for recycling.
4.THE CURRENT CONDITION OF REFUSE INCINERATION
Fukuoka City has endeavored to maintain a system that fully disposes of (incinerates) combustible refuse which accounts for the majority of all refuse. In particular, the city has maintained its incineration structure through efforts to cope with the rapid increase in refuse volume from the Showa 60's (1985 to 1988) such as the construction of the Tobu Second Plant in 1990 and the rebuilding of the Seibu Plant in 1992. In recent years, however, the volume of combustible refuse has exceeded the capacity of the incineration plants and the city's disposal issue is in a critical situation before the coastal incineration plant, which is scheduled to be completed, will be in operation. Under such circumstances, we must make a carefully thought-out plan to ensure the effective disposal of refuse as well as make efforts to reduce the refuse volume.
Table-7 Incineration Plants List
Category / Capacity / Yearly disposal capacity / Remarks1996 / 2001
Tobu Plant / 600 t/day / 510 t/ day / 480 t/ day / Opened in 1976
Tobu Second Plant / 200 t/day / 170 t/ day / 160 t/ day / Opened in 1990
Nanbu Plant / 600 t/ day / 510 t/ day / 480 t/ day / Opened in 1981
Seibu Plant / 750 t/ day / 630 t/day / 600 t/ day / Opened in 1992
Coastal Plant (schedule) / (900 t/day) / - / 580 t/ day / Scheduled to open at the end of 2000
Total / 2,150 t/day / 1,820 t/day / 2,300 t/day
Remarks: The yearly disposal capacity is calculated reflecting a halting of incinerators for regular maintenance. The working ratio will be changed from 85% to 80 % after 2001 (when the coastal plant will be opened).
5.THE CURRENT CONDITION OF REFUSE CRUSHING AND SEPARATION
The Recycling Centers for crushing and separating noncombustible refuse and bulky refuse are situated at the Seibu Clean Park and the Tobu Clean Park to reduce the refuse volume dumped in the landfill sites, as well to collect ferrous metal and aluminum. The volume of noncombustible refuse and bulky refuse shows an increase probably due to the issue related to collection at key locations (combustible refuse mixed together with corporate refuse brought in). After reviewing the collection of domestic refuse since December 1997, reducing the refuse volume should be promoted.
Table-8 Crushing and Separating Plants List
Category / Capacity / Yearly disposal capacity / RemarksTobu Recycling Center / 250 t/ day / 125 t/ day / Opened in 1986
Seibu Recycling Center / 200 t/ day / 120 t/ day / Opened in 1994
Total / 450 t/ day / 245 t/ day
Remarks: Yearly disposal capacity is the value recorded after 1998.
6.THE CURRENT CONDITION OF LANDFILL DISPOSAL
Acquisition of final disposal sites for landfill is the biggest issue for refuse disposal and Fukuoka City has put a great deal of effort into this. As the Tobu (Fushitani) landfill site located in Hisayama-machi in the Eastern district and the Imazu landfill site in the Western district will reach their full capacity soon, the Seibu (Nakata) site has been reopened as a landfill site and has been utilized since 1996. Since acquisition of final disposal sites will likely be more difficult in the future, we have to seek ways to use the existing final disposal sites for the longest period of time possible through the promotion of refuse reduction and recycling.
Table-9 Final Disposal Sites List
Category / Size of Land / Capacity / RemarksTobu (Fushitani) Landfill Site / Approx. 644,000 m2 / Approx. 3.40 million MT / Opened in 1988
Seibu (Imazu) Landfill Site / Approx. 758,000 m2 / Approx. 1.64 million MT / Opened in 1975
Seibu (Nakata) Landfill Site / Approx. 380,000 m2 / Approx. 2.38 million MT / Opened in 1996
7.THE CURRENT CONDITION OF REFUSE REDUCTION AND RECYCLING
To cope with the issues of constantly increasing refuse, Fukuoka City has formed a range of policies to promote refuse reduction and recycling while improving the disposal facilities and structures. Since refuse is deeply connected with the citizens' lives and business activities, the "Reducing Refuse Volume and Recycling Promotion Committee" has been organized in cooperation with citizens, corporations and administrative entities to work on the issues together.
1) Reducing Domestic Refuse and Recycling
Fukuoka City has been engaged in a variety of refuse reduction and recycling promotional projects. Two examples are rewarding achievements for local group collections conducted by the children's societies, and subsidizing systems for purchasing compost. The city is also promoting the "Recycle Dream Market" in which unused furniture and other items are provided to citizens, promoting the "Karl Mark Stores" which provide simple wrapping, and promoting the "Clean Recycle Project" in which each ward office collects empty cans and other items. As supplemental projects of local group collections, a scrap paper collection at key location project and a regular collection project have also gone forward. We have also enlightened the citizens' consciousness about reducing refuse and recycling through a range of activities. One example is establishing the "Recycle Plaza," which is a place for information on recycling and activities. We are hosting "Refuse Reduction Fairs" and organizing field trips to disposal plants and recycling-related facilities. Further, we are taking the "empty cans pressing car (kanpaku taisho)" to elementary schools and other facilities, and providing a leaflet entitled "Garbage and Us" as one of the educational materials for the social classes of 4th grade students.
Citizens’ awareness about environmental issues has recently been raised and it is crucial to encourage them to carry out concrete actions and to further enhance the reduction of refuse and recycling. There is excess scrap paper remaining. Unused and old magazines are not collected due to the sluggish prices existing throughout the nation. Because the amount of collected scrap paper far exceeds the low demand for recycled paper, an effective solution is needed to ensure stable scrap paper recycling.
2) Reducing Corporate Refuse and Recycling
In order to reduce corporate refuse, corporations with business buildings larger than the specified size (a total floor space of 3,000m) are obligated to prepare a refuse reduction report and appoint a refuse reduction promotion manager. In addition, government authorities will make an inspection inside the buildings in order to give guidance on reducing refuse and recycling. Reducing refuse from the city government offices is also enhanced through controlling the usage of paper, promoting the usage of recycled paper and separating the disposal of scrap paper from other items. Since the volume of corporate refuse disposed of is the same as that of domestic refuse, reinforced and thoroughgoing guidance should be provided to further promote corporate refuse reduction and recycling. In addition, a system offering a great incentive to move to refuse reduction and recycling (since recycling is more reasonable and economical than disposing paper as refuse) should be established.
8.PREDICTION OF FUTURE REFUSE VOLUME BASED ON THE PAST RECORD
The estimated refuse volume has been calculated based on the record of refuse volume for the past ten years and the estimated population changes described in the 7th Fukuoka City Basic Plan. As an estimate of future refuse volume, domestic refuse will increase from 376,000 MT in 1996 to 515,000 MT in 2010, corporate refuse from 345,000 MT to 506,000 MT, and the total amount from 775,000 MT to 1,104,000 MT, which is an increase of 42%.
Table-10 Estimate of Refuse Volume Based on the Past Changes
Category / Domestic refuse / Corporate refuse / Others / Refuse brought from outside the city / Total / Population1996 / 376,296 MT
(100) / 344,528 MT (100) / 6,797 MT (100) / 47,874 MT (100) / 775,495 MT (100) / 1.296 million (100)
2010 / 515,000 MT (137) / 506,000 MT (147) / 7,000 MT (103) / 76,000 MT
(159) / 1,104,000 MT (142) / 1.467 million (113)
Remarks: The value enclosed in the brackets is an index number with the 1996 figures equaling 100.
9.TRENDS IN REFUSE VOLUME
The future refuse disposal volume is calculated deducting an estimated reduction amount brought about by the introduction of refuse reduction policies, such as the three-way separated collection system introduced in December 1997, from an estimated refuse volume based on the past changes. The estimated refuse volume in
a milestone year, the year of 2010, is approx. 473,000 MT of domestic refuse and 476,000 MT of corporate refuse, making a total of 1,032,000 MT of refuse (See Table-12). Since improvements in refuse disposal facilities and structures will be designed and carried out according to the changes in the refuse disposal volume, we must manage the progress of each project effectively, as well as further promote the future reduction of refuse volume and recycling.
10.LEADING ORGANIZERS OF REFUSE DISPOSAL
The main organizers of refuse disposal in the milestone year will be basically as follows; however, other measures such as voluntary collections by corporations will be promoted to reduce refuse and to encourage recycling.