Expanding Paper Recycling from the Region — Starting Co-creation Initiatives in Saga

The Waste Paper Promotion Center (Chuo-ku, Tokyo) has partnered with HiBee Inc. (Saga City, Saga Prefecture; CEO Keita Takashige) to initiate a 'Regional Circular and Ecological Sphere Model' based in Saga.

The environment surrounding paper recycling is at a major turning point due to factors such as decreasing generation volumes and increasing demands to reduce burnable waste. In particular, 'miscellaneous paper' discharged from households is still frequently included in burnable waste, and establishing sorting as a daily habit remains a significant challenge.

Starting with the 'Find Mr. Zatsugami!' (Zatsugami-sama wo Sagase!) campaign, this initiative aims to cultivate a sustainable form of circulation by expanding opportunities for easy participation within the region and connecting diverse stakeholders.

Regional Initiatives Starting from 'Miscellaneous Paper' This project is an attempt to rethink how paper resources circulate in the community, triggered by the 'Find Mr. Zatsugami!' campaign. Among paper resources from households, miscellaneous paper is considered an area where sorting is difficult to establish as it easily gets mixed into burnable waste. By focusing on these familiar yet overlooked resources and influencing daily behavior, the project aims to establish sorting habits and promote collection.

Furthermore, the initiative goes beyond mere awareness-raising by accumulating efforts that consider the entire flow from collection to utilization, aiming for a form of circulation that feels more personal within the region. Through these steady efforts, the goal is for paper recycling to spread as a daily action and naturally take root in the community.

Expanding Co-creation Connecting Youth and the Region Through this partnership, initiatives will be advanced that connect diverse regional stakeholders through the participation of the younger generation. HiBee will play a role in connecting the region with youth, local governments, and businesses, eliciting proactive actions through involvement in universities and local activities.

Additionally, opportunities for awareness-raising, collection experiences, and information dissemination will be expanded in accessible settings such as universities, local events, sports venues, and administrative facilities. Through these activities, the project aims for an integrated approach where various stakeholders—including local governments, businesses, educational/research institutions, and citizens—connect across sectors to view the entire flow from discharge to collection and utilization within the region as one.

A Regional Model Spreading from Saga This initiative seeks to find forms of circulation tailored to the actual conditions of each region through the accumulation of specific cases in Saga. Through regional events and collaborations, a sustainable model will be established.