This Japanese Town Sorts Their Waste Into These 45 Categories

In 2003, the Japanese municipality of Kamikatsu declared their intention to become a Zero-Waste Town. While true zero-waste is impossible, 20 years later the town has reached an impressive 80% recycling rate. (The national average in Japan is just 20%; in America, single digits.) Kamikatsu has achieved this rate by studying garbage, and determining that there are 13 categories and 45 subcategories of waste. The town (population roughly 1,400) has no garbage trucks. Instead, residents...