Addressing Solid Waste Management  through the 3R Approach

A long-term plan called “Yokohama G30 Plan” was proposed in January 2003 to address increasing amount of waste generated in the city. The aim of the plan was to reduce waste by 30% by fiscal year 2010, compared to a baseline amount of 1.6 million tons in 2001. The G30 plan succeeded in achieving the goal five years prior to the target year, as well as in reducing the amount of garbage by 42.2 %. This success led to the development of the 3R Dream Plan, which aspires to further reduce and recycle garbage to improve the environment and thus the future of the city. The plan promotes not only 3R (Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle) but also proper disposal  anagement by ensuring safe and secure processing and disposal of garbage. This Solution presents successful attempts of the City of Yokohama to implement waste management through the two plans, which made the city widely known as an “eco-friendly city” at a global scale.