Videocrux - Japan pushing landfills in the dustbin of history

#Videocrux - Japan pushing landfills in the dustbin of history Japan pushing landfills in the dustbin of history
Seeking to turn an environmental problem into an economic opportunity, high-tech companies in resource-poor Japan are mining mountains of toxic e-waste for precious minerals.
Japan aims at zero waste society
Japan has come a long way since the 1950s, 60s and 70s when it emerged at breakneck speed as Asia's economic engine room, boosting living standards but often at a devastating environmental cost. The skies over Tokyo, Yokohama and other industrial centres then were often choked with pollution, in the way those over parts of China are today, while waterways darkened with industrial effluent. Since then Japan has tightened many emission standards and other safeguards and launched in 2001 a recycling system that separates paper, glass and aluminium cans from household rubbish that can be incinerated. But despite manufacturers' efforts to go green, some disposal companies still dump dangerous materials, said Tetsuya Sekiguchi, an activist who has joined several residents' lawsuits against waste landfills.
Panasonic claims to have zero ecological impact
One model project, the sprawling Panasonic Eco Technology Centre, sits in lush rice fields an hour's drive outside of Osaka city. Inside, workers and humming machines disassemble flat-panel televisions, refrigerators and air conditioners, sorting their metal and plastic components into boxes for recycling. About 90 percent of dismantled parts are reused in one way or another, says Yutaka Maehara, a manager at the plant. The plant aims to leave a minimal environmental footprint and to be a good neighbour in its quaint rural setting.
Cannon reusing printer's cartridges
One pioneer in Japan has been camera maker Canon, which started recycling toner cartridges from its printers about 20 years ago and now reuses 90 percent of the components of its photocopiers. "Our system is closed loop recycling, which means used parts from our products are used again in our products," said Tomonori Iwashita, the executive officer in charge of Canon's environmental policy. Canon and synthetic fibre maker Toray Industries Inc. have jointly developed a high quality plastic made from corn, which has been used in keyboards and components of its office machines.
Japan working to develop more natural products
As more natural products become available, and the population becomes more responsible,, its hoped landfills will be thrown in the dustbin of history.

Flash player