Research on Eco-Towns in Japan - UNEP

2. Overview of Eco-Towns in Japan
generally be categorized into four types as follows:
1. Promotion of establishment of a sound material-cycle society by regional industrial
infrastructure
[Example; Kawasaki Eco-Town]
2. Promotion of establishment of a sound material-cycle society by attraction of enterprises
policy
[Example; Kita-Kyushu Eco-Town]
3. Promotion of establishment of a sound material-cycle society by citizens’ involvement
[Example; Minamata Eco-Town]
4. Waste management and town planning
[Example; Naos hima Eco-Town]
2-4 Projects by Industrial Sectors
Many projects have been implemented based on Eco-Town Plans. The biggest concern of
the enterprises is whether reuse/recycling businesses and by-product exchange are
remunerative. The enterprises in Eco-Towns are acknowledged to receive subsidies up to
half of the initial investment (construction cost) by the government. However, there are many
enterprises doing their business in Eco-Towns without receiving any subsidy. Although they
do not receive subsidy, they benefit from being located in an Eco-Town communities such as
business opportunities and information sharing. METI categorizes the projects of the
Eco-Town projects succeeding in their businesses as follows:
(1) Categorized by business needs of recycling facilities
1. Implementation of Laws concerning 3R
2. Response to sound waste management and recycling needs of general waste and
refuse incineration ash
3. Response to sound waste management and recycling needs of hard-to-treat refuse
4. Response to recycling needs of local products (such as fishery products and wood)
(2) Categorized by local resources
1. Utilization of existing facilities
2. Utilization of existing commercial distributions
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