Atsuko Hanashima

Exploring Japan’s approach to environmental education, particularly in the context of waste management, offers valuable insights into the intersection of education and sustainability. Environmental education, implemented over an extended period, has played a pivotal role in shaping societal values toward sustainability. In Japan, such activities have been ongoing since the 1930s, yet the long-term impacts on societal behavior and policy development remain underexplored. This study presents an overview of Japan’s educational framework, focusing on quantitative trends based on a nationwide survey of waste incineration facilities conducted in 2010, reflecting data from fiscal year 2009. The survey achieved a 94% response rate (731/775 facilities) and revealed that in fiscal year 2009, approximately 1.28 million people visited waste incineration facilities, with 69% being fourth-grade students participating in curriculum-based field trips. Extrapolating from these data, it is estimated that 44% (55 million) of Japan’s current population has experienced environmental education through such visits during their elementary school years. This widespread participation underscores the extensive reach and societal impact of these initiatives in fostering awareness of waste management. By integrating the Sustainable Approach, which ensures intergenerational equity, with the Capability Approach, which empowers individuals for sustainable well-being, this study illustrates the potential of Japan’s long-standing environmental education practices, particularly in fostering sustainable behaviors and policy innovations, to serve as a global model for sustainability efforts.

This paper discusses the environmental education conducted at waste treatment facilities, which is a significant feature of waste management in Japan. This kind of research has never been done before. In this study, responses were obtained from 82.2% (755/919) of incineration facilities in Japan. According to the survey, 96% of incineration facilities accept visitors. During normal times before the COVID-19 pandemic, they were visited by 8.71 million people annually. Among them, 1.08 million people participated in field trips and lectures to learn about the waste treatment system, with 67% being fourth-grade elementary school students visiting as part of their classes. The practice of elementary school students learning about waste treatment began with the national curriculum guidelines enacted in 1971 and has continued for about half a century. Incineration facilities are equipped to accommodate elementary school students. In 2020, Japan was also hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, even in such circumstances, waste incineration facilities and elementary schools endeavored to continue the field trips for elementary school students. General visitors decreased by 92% from the previous year, but visits as part of elementary school classes only decreased by 77%. The survey results indicate that incineration facilities made efforts to continue the tours for elementary school students by adjusting the timing, implementing infection control measures, and limiting locations. It became clear that many waste management professionals believe that field trips to waste treatment facilities for elementary school students should continue even during the COVID-19 pandemic.