Assessment of Solid Waste Management in Ecovillages Case Study of Konohana Family in Japan

抄録

The inadequate management of solid waste causes environmental and social problems that can be minimized by realizing sustainable practices in communities. In Japan, some communities are taking active role in efforts to achieve sustainability on regional scale. In Shizuoka-Japan, Konohana Family, a community of 56 members, nowadays, known as an ecovillage is challenging to be a sustainable community. Ecovillages are considered the newest and most potent kind of sustainable community. Although ecovillage definitions do not indicate a specific way to manage solid wastes, Konohana community, is challenging its safe management by using sustainable practices. As solid waste management is closely linked not only technical but also social aspects, it should be studied based on an integral approach. Thus through a physical characterization of Konohana’s solid wastes, this research assesses parameters for a sustainable local management. Also, through 43 surveys to adults and 7 surveys to children, this study was complemented. It is identified that 77% of members believe that reducing wastes should be the major priority in their ecovillage; 14% argues reusing wastes; and 9% suggest recycling as main concern. Besides children’s opinions, support the necessity of preserving the common environment through eco-friendly actions like composting and recycling. This research also determines that 0.4 kg is daily generated per person, where almost 70% are organic wastes and completely recycled. The 17% is potentially recyclable, 5% is previously reused and 8% are others (mixed waste); indicating favourable conditions and the necessity of dialogue to reconsider some recyclable materials which may be recycled or reused in source, in order to reduce, even more, the amount of wastes given to local collection facilities. Finally to contextualize Konohana’s scenario, it is important to mention that the spiritual aspect (without any religion) plays an important role since spirituality is understood as the ability to communicate and cooperate with spiritual forces, belongs to the basic necessities of humankind.