Abstract
Investigations and analysis were conducted to determine the amount of materials flowing into, circulating within, and flowing out of the eco-town in Kitakyushu in order to obtain information for a subsequent comprehensive evaluation of the eco-town project. The majority of materials going into the eco-town are being incorporated as resources to produce usable materials and energy, and the rest are treated and sent to companies outside the eco-town for further processing, recycling or final disposal. The ultimate material recycling rate is at 74% and the ultimate recycling rate, including thermal recycling, is as large as 94%. Within the eco-town, these rates are at 65% and 75%, respectively. The recycling rate is larger for metals, inorganic materials, plastics and biomass (increasing in this order). A portion of economically valuable materials is 24% of the total amount of material entering the eco-town, and increased up to 66% for materials leaving. There are many material-processing companies located intensively in the eco-town, but the cooperative activity among them is not sufficient and there is still room for improvement.
