Okayama City Conducts Recycling Survey on Guam

Results to improve island’s green practices

NOTE: The following is a joint release by the University of Guam and the Guam Visitors Bureau

(Tumon, Guam) Officials from the City of Okayama teamed up with the Guam Visitors Bureau (GVB) and the University of Guam (UOG) Center for Island Sustainability over the Labor Day weekend to conduct a survey about how well locals and visitors separate waste using waste separation bins. Okayama University’s Dr. Takeshi Fujiwara led the survey team, along with assistance from UOG Professor Mari Marutani and Center for Island Sustainability Coordinator Elvie Tyler.

It was in October 2013 that the City of Okayama donated 30 sets of waste separation bins to Guam to encourage recycling throughout the island. The bins, which have separate compartments for plastic, aluminum, and paper, were disbursed to about 16 sites around Guam. Governor Eddie Calvo met with the Okayama Delegation in 2012 when they first announced their intentions to donate the bins. The donation is part of an active relationship the City of Okayama established with Guam in a Memorandum of Friendship that was signed on August 31, 2010 by the Mayor of Okayama and then Governor of Guam Felix Camacho.

"GVB is pleased to welcome Dr. Fujiwara to Guam again,” said GVB Deputy General Manager Nate Denight. "We’re really interested to see the results of his survey, which will help improve our island’s recycling programs. We thank the City of Okayama as we see the benefits of our friendship expanding beyond tourism into the areas of sustainability."

“The survey now moves onto its second phase,” said Center for Island Sustainability Coordinator Elvie Tyler. “Dr. Fujiwara wants to continue to pass on the questionnaire to about 10,000 island residents to gain an overall sense of how well recycling bins are being utilized in the community. We encourage everyone to take the short survey, which can be found online. UOG is proud to be part of this project that encourages green and sustainable practices.”

The recycling survey for island residents can be found at  http://fjlab.ambiente.okayama-u.ac.jp/guam/guam2014/questionnaire_resident(EN). 

The survey period will run to the end of September.

Media Contact: JOSH TYQUIENGCO - Public Information Officer