Keiko Nakamura

Chairman of "Society of Thinking about Date City"
(83-81, Suenaga-cho, Date-city, Hokkaido 052 Japan)

Abstract

Date city in now nation-wide known for its successful waste reduction by the user charge on waste collection since 1989. This paper gives the overview of the system: why the user charge system was proposed; what was the citizen's reaction to the system; and what administrative policy was taken by the city. The after-effect of the system and future subject are also discussed based on the survey "citizen's consciousness of the user charge system" .

Key words: user charge, waste reduction, recycling, effort to help one-self, citizen's consciousness