As the tour bus approached the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Waste Landfill Site, the landscape and lack of odours gave no hint that we were entering a rubbish depot. The children on the bus began to smile with anticipation.
"I read about the site from books before the trip and it's exciting to be able to explore the waste management system here," said Weerayut Thimakham, a Thai student from Chun Witthayakhom in Phayao.
Tokyo is a world leader in technology to reduce the amount of waste generated by the city. Photos courtesy of Tokyo Metropolitan Government Waste Landfill Site
Weerayut was among 30 young people from three communities — Chiang Mai's Paephapa, Si Sa Ket's Ban Nonglaeng and Phrae's Ban Longlueboon — who were chosen to go on a trip to visit exhibitions and landfill sites in Japan and to study green initiatives.
Sponsored by Toyota Motor Thailand and the Thailand Environment Institute Foundation, the Toyota Green Town project is aimed at promoting a low carbon society.
Located at Tokyo Bay, the reclaimed land site is a classic example of the metropolitan government's efforts to deal with mountains of garbage produced by city residents and industrial factories each year.
The urban lifestyle of contemporary people is blamed for producing incredible amounts of waste, impacting on the environment and health. As far back as 1989, Tokyo was producing 4.9 million tonnes of waste.
The city's administrators had to look for new places in which to dispose of the garbage as the population and the volume of waste continued to grow.
Reclaiming land from the sea was one obvious solution as Japan is an island nation. So the authorities tried to make the most of its physical geography and introduced new technology into waste management, a guide at the landfill site explained.
Waste collected from the 23 wards of Tokyo is burned at an incineration plant and the residue and ash is molded into bricks which are then tipped into the landfill site.
An area of about 400 hectares has so far been recovered from the sea after being filled with garbage from city residents and factories, according to the guide. But now the amount of waste generated by the city is beginning to drop slowly.
"It's a very interesting concept," said Weerayut who won third place in a competition on caring for the environment and a place on the trip to Japan. From the trip, he said, he had learned how to recycle paper, plastic and glass.
He said he had acquired knowledge about the importance of garbage sorting and various techniques that could be applied to his community, adding waste sorting is not only of environmental importance, but of economic concern as well.
Apart from garbage sorting techniques, Weerayut and the others on the trip were also lectured on water waste management, renewable energy sources and municipal landfilling.
The Toyota green contest is aimed at encouraging children to develop an early interest in nature and inspire them to lead an eco-friendly lifestyle, said Mana Choochanthong, from Toyota Motor Thailand. The firm, he said, has always been serious about environmental issues so created a factory that is environmentally friendly to help protect the world.
The company launched a campaign on saving the planet through several green initiatives. Part of its programme involves pupils from around the country submitting green projects that they think are friendly to the environment in their communities.
The project is required to focus on waste management activities, energy saving, green transport and green spaces.
The winners for the school category last year were from Khuandonwittaya School in Satun province, Nong Chok Pityanusornmatthayom School in Bangkok and Chun Witthayakhom in Phayao province.
The winners for the community category were from Paephapa community in Chiang Mai, Ban Nonglaeng in Si Sa Ket and Ban Longlueboon in Phrae.
Apart from the waste management site, Toyota Shirakawa-Go Eco Institute provided another highlight for the students. Located just 10 minutes from Shirakawa-Go traditional village — a Unesco World Heritage site — the eco institute houses several environmentally friendly initiatives.
The institute was launched in 2005 in cooperation with the government, non-profit organisations and the business sector to develop Japan's finest natural school to pass on environmental education.
The institute features solar-powered inventions and offers a programme on hydroelectric power generating.
Its students get hands-on experience through outdoor eco-recreation and environmental activities that foster coexistence between people and nature, the guide said.
Programmes include forest regeneration, night trekking and forest conservation that are designed to encourage students to become stewards of the environment.
Students are given an opportunity to experience nature close at hand and why it is important to instill a love for nature among children who can then pass on the message when they grow older.
Naruebeth Salam, a student from Nong Chok Pityanusornmattayom School, said a programme he attended at the institute allowed him to stay close to nature and teach students to appreciate and enjoy the environment.
"I had a unique experience when taking part in an outdoor activity the institute offered. I really appreciated it. It's one of the best experiences I could ever have," he said, adding that staying in the institute compound amid the green space was good for his lungs.
The group then moved on to Toyota Ecoful Town, a model town that allows students to see how people can live in a low-carbon society.
Opened in 2012, the green home model is situated in Aichi Prefecture's Toyota City where leading automobile maker Toyota Motor is based.
At one exhibition, a "smart house" incorporates several green features and is equipped with high technology solar power generation and a home energy management system involving energy data management system technologies to make the place friendly to the environment.
There is also a zone that showcases electric cars and intelligent transport system technologies, plus other facilities powered by solar energy in a bid to solve traffic congestion.
Siridon Nawilaijaroen, mayor of Khunhan district in Si Sa Ket who won a place on the trip, said he greatly appreciated Japanese concern about the health of the planet. They are trying, he said, to reduce their carbon footprint in daily activities and products with innovative technologies that reduce energy consumption and produce "friendly" transport systems.
Mr Siridon said the model town helps people to understand the importance of saving valuable resources and promoting sustainable living.
"We can do small things in our daily activities to help save the planet like turning off the light when we leave a room," he said.
"That is a little thing that counts in helping us to save the planet."
