Since there is limited space available on a resource-strapped island nation, Japan really doesn’t have a lot of options when it comes to disposing of all their things.
Unfortunately, this is the reality in Japan, which causes major issues for the only thing surrounding the country, which is the ocean. Although there is chaos in trying to get dispose of daily waste, citizens in Japan work quite closely with one another, maintaining an orderly and respectful society.
Due to being organized, the country makes an effort to organize their rubbish in many different categories that are then discarded on a complete rotating and continuous schedule. Consumers at major public events, for instance, are accustomed to gomi mochikaeri, which is an act of bringing one’s trash home to dispose thereof. Trash cans are thus not seen at big events or many public places. Even though this is the case, the Japanese stay organized and respectful of their country and dispose of their trash at home or wherever it’s possible.
Japanese are extremely frugal, which is something the entire world can learn from. Over 50% of households even recycle bathwater, making it a primary chore in their homes. They dispose of their bathwater through a specialized pump that discards water that is steamed into washing machines that get reused during wash cycles.
Japan’s One Shortcoming
Every country has a set of good things and bad things. Unfortunately for Japan, because the country is so densely populated and compact, the country’s organized society is threatening the environment through plastic waste.
Japanese are addicted to plastic, particularly packaging. This causes their cultural instincts and presentable society to wrap products as appealingly as possible, which when discarded, eventually ends up in the ocean and harms mammals. Walking into a grocery store, you can expect all fruits and vegetables to be packaged neatly in plastic, which is quite unnecessary considering that other countries don’t package fresh produce.
Residents living oceanside in Japan have described their scenery as hoards of plastic pouring onto beaches, as well as seaside parks. One resident even explained how the ocean water was overflowing the cement embankment of what used to be a popular seaside park. Basically, what happens all along coasts of Japan, is plastic waste are being piled up, washed into the ocean due to strong winds, and either remain in the ocean or washes up on beaches all around the coastline. It is an incredible concern for both the ocean and the environment.
