UB Mayor studies Japanese anti-air pollution and waste management solutions

Mayor of Ulaanbaatar S. Batbold returns today from a four-day visit to Tokyo where he studied Japan’s solutions for reducing air pollution and improving waste management.

Mayor S. Batbold was invited to Japan by Governor of Tokyo Yuriko Koike to exchange views on bilateral relations between the two cities, in commemoration of the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Mongolia and Japan.

TOKYO'S AIR POLLUTION MEASURES

During his visit, Mayor S.Batbold met the Deputy Director for Planning and Environmental Improvement Division at the Tokyo Metropolitan Research Institute for Environmental Protection, Takeaki Orihara, who introduced Tokyo’s anti-air pollution measures.

Deputy Director Orihara recommended taking measures to reduce the smoke emissions of factories and power plants as an initial step in improving air quality in Ulaanbaatar. He said that Tokyo established a special contract with Tokyo Electric Power Company, which provides electricity to Japan's Kanto region. The contract specifies the use of high-quality, low-sulfur crude oil to generate energy. Tokyo launched new regulations on emissions from diesel-powered vehicles in 2003. There are 47 general air pollution monitoring stations and 35 roadside air pollution monitoring stations in Tokyo, Deputy Director Orihara stated.

Reportedly, air pollution in Tokyo has been steadily decreasing since the diesel vehicle regulations took effect in 2003, cutting the level of atmospheric particulate matter (PM2.5) within 10 years.

Tokyo requires that vehicles undergo mandatory inspections every two years to ensure optimal preventive action against air pollution.

WASTE MANAGEMENT

On April 18, Mayor S.Batbold visited the Morigasaki Water Reclamation Center and City Maintenance and Waste Management Center and Environmental Research Institute in Tokyo.

Around 20 waste management and waste collection centers operate in Tokyo, and the City Maintenance and Waste Management Center processes and disposes waste from 21 districts in Tokyo.

Japan’s largest reclamation center, the Morigasaki Water Reclamation Center, cleans 25 percent of wastewater from properties across Tokyo. The Mayor of Ulaanbaatar had the opportunity to watch the wastewater treatment process at the reclamation center.

Mayor S.Batbold said he hopes to adopt Japan’s effective practices and solutions for waste management and air pollution reduction in Ulaanbaatar.