−What do you do?
Romina: I have a degree in visual arts, photography and performatic artist. I am also a restorer and conservator of the movable cultural heritage.

−You have talent, right?　Where did you study?
Romina: I studied at the University of Chile

−I heard you went around Japan. What is the most interesting in Japan?
Romina: About collecting garbage system because Chili doesn’t have a good system yet. I live in a small village and the residents don't care about the garbage. They mixed all garbage to gather even though some can be recycled. I didn’t want to put them all in a container.
   So I usually carried recycle garbage like bins, cans, pet-bottles on my back by bus to the next village and throw them away because that village collects them separately. I wanted to know about the Japanese garbage system.

 

Romina san and her mother

 

−I see. You visited a garbage factory in my city, didn’t you? What did you think of it?
Romina: It is a huge factory. Everything is controlled systematically. I watched a big refuse incinerator. A large crane were mixing garbage at first. A staff kindly showed us the crane scooped garbage and put them into the refuse incinerator. There were a few people controlling in the operating room which looked like a transportation system room.

− I was surprised to watch it.
Romina: Then we watched recyclables separated. I knew plastic garbage turns into many items including shirts and so on. I understand how Japan collects garbage and recycles it.

−But I think Japan should manage recycle percentage up.
Romina: So I went to Kamikatsucho. I heard Kamikatsucho wants to be garbage free town and many people from the world visit there. They are interested in the Kamikatsu way. I also wanted to know how it is. They accepted me for free for about one month. I could stay and work.

−What did you do there?
Romina: I worked with people who related garbage issues. I made posters which showed the Kamikatsu ways because I’m a painter. I’ll show you my works. Here you are.

 

− Thank you. What nice posters! It must be great help for Kamikatsucho.
Romina: And I made many accessories which are old Japanese slippers called waraji.

−I know Waraji and I used them in my childhood.
Romina: I also made many big waraji slippers. The garbage center sells them.

−What did you learn about garbage in Kamikatsucho?
Romina: A lot. The town has no garbage collecting system, except for those who need help

−How do they throw their garbage away?
Romina: There is a garbage center. People carry the garbage by themselves there. But not much. And some items such as clothing, cups, plates, bowls and so on are put on the shelves. Everyone can take and to use them for free.

−It’s a nice system, isn’t it?
Romina: Yes, it is. The waste from each home is also used to make bags, toys, dolls, warajis and other accessories. They sell them. Many visitors who are interested in the Kamikatsu way buy them as souvenirs.

−It’s a nice system.
Romina: All garbage is separated in 34 categories in Kamikatsucho.

−Too many.
Romina: Yes, it is. But it’s great help for Kamikatsucho to reduce the garbage. It can recycle over 80% of the garbage.

−Great. Now Kamaikatsucho plans to recycle 100% in 2020.
Romina: I think they can make it.

−I hope so. By the way, do you have any plans for the garbage?
Romina: I am planning to use the Kamikatsu system in my village.
I will persuade the residents to separate their garbage.

−You can make it.
Romina: Thank you.
（2019年2月2日掲載）