Kamikatsu’s Green Village

Since 2003, the village of Kamikatsu on the southern island of Shikoku has been recycling over 80% of its rubbish, separating items into over 40 categories (separating paper from cardboard, for example). Particular attention is paid to the state of the material recycled: plastic bottles have their paper labels removed, and food containers are rinsed to remove any remains.

An engaged population

This meticulous behaviour necessitates the involvement of local residents who take the time to check the cleanliness of rubbish items and take them to recycling centres themselves. Many have also adopted new, eco-friendly habits and give away old or broken objects rather than throwing them out.

Even public architecture adheres to this principle: a building constructed in 2015, that houses numerous public services dedicated to community living, including a bar, was built to promote recycling. Its facade is made from glass doors from houses across the village. Collected from locals who no longer had a use for them, they were assembled and remodelled to form a large bay window.

Kamikatsu can be reach by rail from Tokushima airport.