One of the subthemes of the EXPO 2005 Aichi, Japan is“Development for Eco-Communities”. To realize the goal of“No garbage being carried out of the Expo site”, active efforts were made to promote the 3Rs (reduce, reuse, and recycle). Within the venue, sewage was cleansed for washroom use and plant-watering through densed ozone. All restaurants in the Expo sites utilized biodegradable plastic utensils and flatware. Other garbage was recycled and converted into fuel cells or batteries for the power supply in the Expo sites, which made full use of the limited resources in an efficient way. These mothods of handling garbage formed an organic part of the theme of“Nature’s Wisdom”of Expo 2005.

The garbage cans were dark green hexagonal containers with detailed verbal directions in words and icons around the tops of the containers about the categories of waste. Transparent plastic bags were put in the cans so visitors could see the contents. The following 9 categories could be separated by visitors: 1) PET bottles; (2) paper cups and paper containers; (3) plastic items; (4) disposable wooden chopsticks; (5) paper items; (6) raw waste; (7) combustable garbage; (8) noncombustable garbage; and (9) left-over drinking water. In addition, the 17 categories also include aluminum cans, steel cans, bottles, cardboard boxes, and used cooking oil. Through the detailed separation of garbage, both visitors and participants were more aware than usual of the fact that if garbage is mixed, it is waste, but if it is separated, it is a resource. Garbage separation provides an opportunity to further deepen understanding of waste recycling.

There were more that 80 Garbage Disposal Stations set up around the sites. Each station was staffed by two full-time workers who were dressed in yellow fluorescent garments. These workers assisted visitors in separating garbage patiently and warm-heartly. Every now and then, staff would come with big barrels to collect the different waste, which would be taken to intermediate garbage collection sites called Substockyards, set up at 16 places, from which they would be taken, together with garbage seperated into the 17 categories by participants, to the final disposal site, called the Main Stockyard. At the Main Stockyard, such work as volume reduction and blocking (melting and solidifying) of cans and PET bottles and removal of cardboard boxes was carried out. Every day after the closing of the exhibits, this kind of work would carry on until 4 am the following day.

Thanks to the neutral volume and color, though stationed quite densely around the sites, the garbage cans didn’t become an eyesore for the sightseeing visitors, yet were very handy if need be. The existence of those highly organized cans and the staff accounted for the spotless condition of the venue every day.

The garbage cans played an important role in the harmonization of the environment as a whole. Also the collection of the categorized trash paved the way for the reuse of the natural resources. The most important was that the process of categorizing the garbage conveys to every visitor the concept of“Care for the Earth”. This abstract theme is embodied in such a simple act, which is both simple and straightforward. Each person’s tiny efforts together contributed to the great cause of environmental protection.

With the disposition of waste in the Expo, Aichi definitely has set a standard for all of us about how to be considerate of Nature. Consciously or unconsciously, each of us has learned much. It’s true that human beings can change our living environment through creation and innovation. However, the way we handle our waste can shed some light on our attitude towards the present and the future.

At the Expo, Aichi has turned something that everybody can do, but nobody wants to do, into something that every one loves to do. This undoubtedly conveys to us the idea that even small acts can demonstrate a significant global theme. If this kind of attitude toward Nature can be realized in everybody’s behavior, this will surely become the best legacy of Expo 2005.

Notes about the pictures:

1、cans for paper waste in the Garbage Disposal Stations

2、categorized garbage cans

3、dedicated workers helping visitors separate waste at a group of garbage cans

4、workers carrying the barrels with various waste to the substockyards

5、substockyard

6、signs in the Garbage Disposal Stations on the categorization of garbage.