Challenges Associated with Municipal Curbside Recycling in Matsudo City, Chiba, Japan

Improper waste disposal and management globally is linked to a variety of problems with the environment and health. This problem can be addressed by following the 3 R’s; reduce, reuse, and recycle. Japan is continually aiming towards becoming a sustainable, recycling oriented society with the implementation of the 3 R’s, reducing GHG emissions, and innovating new technologies for recycling and waste management. This research aims to expand the knowledge on the challenges and ways to improve curbside recycling systems and to be able to provide suggestions for improvements to the system with input from Japanese middle school students from a survey, observational information from an area survey, and a one month observation of curbside recycling sites done in Matsudo City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. The main research question is to identify the challenges associated with municipal curbside recycling in