Mt Moere - Moerenuma Park (Photo: Moerenuma Park)

Sapporo residents watch their 'waste'-lines

Known for its beer, miso ramen and snow festival, the city of Sapporo thrives on tourism. More than 14 million visitors annually descend on the capital of Hokkaido Prefecture, taking a toll on the environment and resources of Japan's fifth-largest city. But Sapporo's 1.8 million residents have long worked toward securing a bright and sustainable future. In the lead-up to the Hokkaido Toyako G8 Summit in July, jstyle looks at how the host city is doing its bit to be green:

Some 15 years ago, the Sapporo municipal government placed its citizens on a diet. Rather than watch their waistlines, however, residents were urged to be mindful of their waste. The 1993 "Sapporo Waste Diet Plan" encouraged residents to "reduce refuse by 100g per person per day". The goal was met within four years, when Sapporo residents had reduced their daily waste by an average 103g, or 38kg per person per year. The campaign was renewed in 2001 with the slogan "towards a zero-waste Sapporo".

Residents and visitors to Sapporo are also encouraged to see the city's waste-management efforts first-hand. Tours of Sapporo's Shiroishi Incineration Plant, which opened in 2002, show how it generates electrical power by processing 900 tonnes of waste a day through its high-temperature, high-pressure boilers.

A former waste treatment site now features as one of Sapporo's major new urban parks. Moerenuma Park, designed by acclaimed architect Isamu Noguchi, opened in 2005 and is the centrepiece of the "Circular Greenbelt Concept" aimed at increasing greenery in and around Sapporo. Awarded for its design and beauty, most visitors to Moerenuma Park would never guess it is built atop 2.7 million tonnes of waste.

Environmental events also feature on Sapporo's social calendar. Over three days each August, more than 20,000 people visit the "Kankyo hiroba Sapporo" (Sapporo Environmental Plaza) to see displays and seminars on recycling, energy conservation and eco-friendly living. The city also takes part in the annual United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) World Environment Photographic Exhibition, an exhibition held around Asia to raise environmental awareness.

With the G8 Summit to be held in Hokkaido this year, Sapporo is using the extra attention to promote eco-friendly causes. The Children's World Summit for the Environment 2008, a three-day event involving children from Japan and other G8 nations, has been organised to coincide with the summit.