Whether seen in the form of square-shaped watermelons, specially made to fit easily into small refrigerators, or microwaves that also serve as conventional ovens and toasters, the Japanese are renown for their efficient use of their limited materials and space.

Why has this need come about? Well fundamentally Japan's population of over 127 million is crammed into a country where 80% of the land mass is unusable, mountainous terrain, with few natural resources. Added to this is the fact that Shinto, Japan's native religion, upholds a strong tradition of respect and reverence for the sanctity of the environment. This attitude is seen not only in recent laws and corporate-driven initiatives, but also in the daily rituals of individuals that typify Japanese life. In many regards Japan leads the world when it comes to sustainable lifestyles in an advanced economy...

Following the 1997 Kyoto Protocol against global warming, Japan announced its determination to lead the fight against energy inefficiency and waste through a series of initiatives guiding the behavior of both its citizens and enterprises. And with the country generating roughly 50 million tons of garbage per year, or 1.1 kg per person per day, this is a serious challenge!

One word personifies the Japanese spirit when it comes to recycling. This is "Mottainai". The word is best translated as describing a feeling that something should not be wasted or tossed away until it has been fully utilized.

While visiting Japan in February of 2005, Nobel Peace Prize Winner Wangari Maathai of Kenya, was greatly impressed by the concept of "Mottainai", as pursued by the Japanese people.

In fact so much so that she suggested that it be developed into a global campaign to literally spread the word, with a view to supporting the 3R movement (Reducing garbage, Reusing available resources, and Recycling used products).

To provide a glimpse of what recycling means for the average Japanese consumer, let's take a look at the Tanakas. Mr. and Mrs. Tanaka are a typical married couple who recently bought a house in the suburbs of Tokyo. Thanks to Mr. Tanaka's hefty summer bonus, something that Japanese workers usually receive every July, they have also decided to buy a fresh set of appliances for their the new house.

Before making their move, there are several steps that the Tanakas must take in order to dispose of their used items. According to the 2001 Household Appliance Recycling Law, televisions, air conditioners, washing machines and refrigerators must be disposed of by the original manufacturers. Unlike in the West, where tossing an old washing machine might mean a trip in a your friend's truck to the local dump, in Japan consumers must bear the brunt of the costs of recycling or else face a hefty fine by local authorities.

Knowing this, Mr. and Mrs. Tanaka have a few options. The first is to call the retailer who sold them the appliances and request that they take care of the disposal with the manufacturer. For an old TV, refrigerator, and air conditioner, this would typically cost around 30,000 yen ($250) in transportation and recycling fees. The other option is to trade in old appliances when purchasing new ones from a retailer. In this case, the recycling fee is lower, but the Tanakas will still need to pay about 15,000 yen ($120) for the transportation fees.

The old products are then typically shipped to a recycling center where the materials are reprocessed, so that they can be used in the manufacture of new models of appliances. Many of the recycling plants near Tokyo have been built on manmade islands, which themselves have been built out of old waste. Alternatively the products may be shipped to other parts of Asia where they can either be sold on as second-hand items or be reprocessed with much lower labor costs. The reprocessed materials are then shipped on to manufacturers, sometimes in Japan.

Bottles, cans, jars, papers, plastic....	...and cars

The final option for the Tanakas would be to stop by a used goods store in suburban Tokyo, with a view to selling their old appliances. Since the end of the bubble economy, such stores have gained in popularity. Not only are the products on offer usually of high quality, with little wear and tear, but they are also much cheaper. Of course consumers also realize the emotional benefit of helping the environment!

But what about the recycling of other items? In the Japanese spirit of "mottainai," clothing is one such item with a long history of reusability. In times past, people dressed in kimonos and yukatas (cotton made summer equivalent of the kimono) until they were no longer fashionable or considered to be worn-out. The fabric would be used to make smaller accessories such as handbags, or as household items such as rags and diapers for babies.

Now some apparel retailers are actively involving themselves in recycling. An example is Uniqlo, a top retailer of casual clothing, often said to be the equivalent of "The Gap" in Japan. This chain will take items that customers no longer want and, depending on the level of wear and tear, will either send it through the United Nations to refugee camps in Nepal and Thailand, or direct it through a recycling process. In the latter case, the old clothes are decomposed into materials used for insulation in cars, work gloves, etc or even made into fuel for power generation.

Overall, product lifecycle awareness is gaining in popularity among Japanese Corporations.

So back to the Tanakas. Most of their unwanted items have been disposed of and they're pretty much ready to make the move. The apartment has been cleaned and all that remains is to throw out the trash.

Recycle Japan: is also a great source of t-shirts!

In Japan, every household is responsible for separating their own trash and then following guidelines on when and where to leave it for pick-up. This means separating out burnable waste such as old food, unburnable trash (plastics, metals etc), newspapers/magazines, cans, glass, tetra-packs, polystyrene trays and plastic PET bottles.

Trash is usually put into transparent bags for collection so that the contents are clearly visible. Low and behold any householder who accidentally put a plastic bottle in the 'burnable trash' bag - expect an anonymous note of complaint from a neighbor. And of course if you're a foreigner, new in town... well suffice to say that this sort of antisocial behavior is almost expected!

Following the Kyoto protocol, Japan is now leading the world in the development of sustainable lifestyles that incorporate recycling. And, if Nobel Prize winner Wangari Maathai has her way, the Japanese may also provide the catchphrase for this 21st century global trend - "mottainai - ne!"