エコタウン事業の理念と現実(下) : 大牟田エコタウンを事例として(第一部寄稿論文集)

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The purpose of this paper is to describe the realities of an 'eco town'project in Japan, as a case of Omuta in Fukuoka prefecture. Omuta wasa coal-minig city of "Mitsui" zaibatsu, and chemical and metal refiningindustries grew from the mining industry. Omuta's economy is in long-termdepression because of the decline of the coal mining industry aswell as of the manufacturing industries based on the natural resources.Nevertheless, the corporate group of "Mitsui" has dominated not onlythe economy but also social and political life of Omuta citizens, evenafter the close of the coal pits in this city in 1997.The eco town project was launched in 1997 both by the Ministry ofIndustry and International Trade (MITI) and the Ministry of Healthand Welfare. After the reorganization of the ministries in 2001, thisproject is carried out now by the Ministry of Economy, Trade andIndustry and the Ministry of Environment jointly.The philosophy of the eco town project is to establish a soundmaterial-cycle society based on the practices of, first of all, reduction ofwaste, then reuse of the used equipments and tools, and recycling of thewaste material. Until January in 2006, 26 projects were approved bythose two ministries. Almost all the projects are characterized by thefostering the so-called recycling industries. Omuta Eco Town wasapproved in 1998 as the forth among all the projects. Its main projectsis, however, not fostering of recycling industries, but construction andoperation of a RDF (refuse derived fuel) power station. The RDF isderived from the household waste not only in Omuta but also inmedium- and small-sized towns in Fukuoka and Kumamoto prefectures.Fukuoka prefecture sought to solve dioxin problems at the small-sizedincinerators in the medium- and small-sized towns and villagesunder the direction of the Ministry of health and Welfare. The MITI,which is responsible for the development of new types of power generationwhich should be independent of oil, and sought to develop a RDFpower station. The then mayor of Omuta looked for some new projectin order to revive the Omuta's economy. All these thinkings amalgamatedinto the RDF power station. We can regard it a top-down projectwithin a bureaucratic system of the central and local governments. Asa result, the main project of the Omuta Eco Town was carried outwithout the cooperation of citizens, and the “Mitsui” group was cold toit.There happened accidents nine times concerning the operation of theRDF power station between its opening in December, 2002, and June in2005. The technology for the recycling of the ash of the burned RDFhas not yet been so well developed as expected at the time of decisionof construction of the Omuta Eco Town. It is now transported to acement factory in Yamaguchi prefecture, more than 100 km far awayfrom Omuta, as like of emergency evacuation. Therefore a part ofcitizens in Omuta protest the project centered on the RDF powerstation. The conflict between the citizens and the municipal authority isnot yet resolved.On the other hand, the municipal government has sought to inviteventure firms, which are developing recycling industries. Among theseveral firms located in the site of the Omuta Eco Town, there is ahopeful undertaking such as recycling of paper diaper. But there arealso problem enterprises. A number of factors cause the difficulties ofthe Omuta Eco Town project. They are attributable, among of all, tothe lack of social capital in the meaning of Coleman (1990) and Putnam(1993) among the citizens and the city authority as well as among the citizens and local corporations. The city authority should constructfirst of all social capital among the local actors. In order to do this, itshould check all the undertakings in the name of Omuta Eco Towncontinuously in the light of the philosophy of the sound material-cyclesociety.
2006-03-03

エコタウン事業の理念と現実(下) : 大牟田エコタウンを事例として(第一部寄稿論文集)

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エコタウン事業の理念と現実(下) : 大牟田エコタウンを事例として(第一部 寄稿論文集)

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エコタウン事業の理念と現実(下) : 大牟田エコタウンを事例として(第一部寄稿論文集)