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Technology transfer of the "Fukuoka Method"(a semi-aerobic landfill structure)
Environmental Bureau, Fukuoka City
Japan

The Problem

Many developing countries have been experiencing a drastic advance in urbanization and population concentration. As a result, problems of public health and environment, including scattered waste and unregulated dumping, have rapidly surfaced. Waste disposal has become a pressing matter.
Their way of waste disposal is called “open dumping”, which is to dump waste at an unmanaged open lot. Open dumping has caused the generation of odor, the infestation of hygiene pest or disease-bearing flies, mosquitoes and rats, and the contamination of underground water and river water for drinking by leachate. It has become a great threat to the conservation of residents’ health and living environment.
To deal with these problems, many countries want to construct sanitary landfill sites. However, they don’t have the construction technology or enough funds. To resolve them, it is important to develop each nation’s local experts, as they are familiar with their culture and environment.

Solution and Key Benefits

 What is the initiative about? (the solution)
By making effective use of available resources in cities in developing countries, we have supported their efforts to shift from open dumping to a new method, despite limited technology and funds, thus leading to less negative impact on health and environment. Since 1999, we have invited staff who played a leading role in waste disposal from Malaysia, China, Samoa and Pakistan, to have training courses in waste disposal technology. After this training, we sent experts for periods of one to two weeks to two years to the site to promote technology transfer there through follow-up advices and seminars.
Currently, the Mengzi County landfill in China and Tafaigata landfill in Samoa have started their operations. Sanitary landfill has contributed to the health of residents and environmental preservation in their vicinities.

Actors and Stakeholders

 Who proposed the solution, who implemented it and who were the stakeholders?
A new solution for waste disposal—a semi-aerobic landfill called the “Fukuoka Method” developed under a joint project between Fukuoka City and Fukuoka University in the beginning of the 1970s. It has become a standard landfill structure in Japan. In order to utilize the Fukuoka Method for solving waste disposal issues in developing countries, Prof. Yasushi Matsufuji has proposed and implemented a modified semi-aerobic design using locally available materials, such as bamboo and used steel drums.
In response, national and local governments in developing countries have used the method to improve landfill sites through the support of JICA and UN-HABITAT.
Fukuoka City and Fukuoka University have worked together to support their efforts in technology transfer of the Fukuoka Method.

(a) Strategies

 Describe how and when the initiative was implemented by answering these questions
 a.      What were the strategies used to implement the initiative? In no more than 500 words, provide a summary of the main objectives and strategies of the initiative, how they were established and by whom.
In the beginning of 1970s, the period of high economic growth in Japan, Fukuoka City and Fukuoka University worked together to develop a semi-aerobic landfill structure called the “Fukuoka Method,” which was first tested in a landfill site in Fukuoka City.
After ascertaining its positive effect on the environment, it was officially accepted as the Fukuoka Method. In this method, pipes are laid at the bottom of a landfill to drain away leachate. By utilizing heat convection that rises in the waste layer due to the difference of internal and external temperature, fresh air flows into the landfill. It accelerates the decomposition of waste materials and promotes the stability of landfill site.
It will help reduce the COD concentration level in leachate and prevent the generation of toxic gases like methane gas, thus lessening the impact on global warming.
This landfill technology has attracted attention as being effective, with higher cost-benefit performance that does not need high standard technology. The introduction of this technology to developing countries that are suffering from waste problems would protect the health of residents and the environment of their neighborhoods, as well as impede global warming.
Therefore in order to promote the transfer of technology of the Fukuoka Method to developing countries, we need to dispatch experts from Fukuoka and train technical staff on the site.

(b) Implementation

 b.      What were the key development and implementation steps and the chronology? No more than 500 words
In 1975, a semi-aerobic landfill structure, the Fukuoka Method has been developed under the joint project with Fukuoka City and Fukuoka University. This prototype structure was applied to the landfill site constructed afterward. After affirming its positive effects, the Fukuoka Method has been put in practical use. Currently, it is widely used as a standardized technology in Japan.
In 1997, in the Working-level Conference of the Asian-Pacific City Summit, there was a demonstration of the Fukuoka Method for the improvement of the landfill with use of bamboo and used steel drums at landfill site in Fukuoka City. Then the Method has become widely known and 18 cities from 9 countries showed their interests.
Accordingly, we sent 76 city experts in total to 12 countries including Malaysia, China, Samoa, and Pakistan to provide technical assistance. We also received 87 trainees from 4 countries through JICA country-focused technical training courses, etc.
Since 2000, JICA has adopted the Fukuoka Method to improve landfill in developing countries. Fukuoka City sent staff to Samoa, which made a successful achievement.
Since 2001, in accordance with the agreement with UN-HABITAT Fukuoka Office and Ministry of Construction, China, the pilot project to construct the Fukuoka Method landfill was launched in Weifang City, Shandong. Province. Fukuoka City and Fukuoka University have provided technical cooperation and in 2003 the first phase construction work was completed and at present landfill operation is underway.
As shown in these projects, the Fukuoka Method has widely become used to improve landfill in many cities in the world.

(c) Overcoming Obstacles

 c.      What were the main obstacles encountered? How were they overcome? No more than 500 words
The necessary factors to develop and improve landfill in developing countries are funds, human resources, materials, management ability, ability to maintain functions and motivation of responsible organizations. Funds could be supported through international cooperation of JICA, etc., but without motivation of responsible organizations, sustainable development of undertakings would be difficult after the completion of the project. Therefore, when we sent experts, we held seminars to waste treatment supervisors and had demonstrations for supervisors and practitioners at the landfill under construction. We tried to let them keep having interest and motivation toward landfill projects.

(d) Use of Resources

 d.      What resources were used for the initiative and what were its key benefits? In no more than 500 words, specify what were the financial, technical and human resources’ costs associated with this initiative. Describe how resources were mobilized
Technical transfer of the Fukuoka Method in developing countries is implemented in response to requests from JICA and UN-HABITAT, which provided funds, while Fukuoka City has provided technical assistance. There are three major projects.
1) Technical transfer in Malaysia
JICA bore parts of expenses of improving the landfill. Fukuoka sent experts of the Method for technical guidance.
2) Technical transfer in Samoa
JICA provided all funds for the improvement of the landfill. Fukuoka sent experts of the Method for technical guidance. JICA paid all expenses of sending experts.
3) Technical transfer in China
JICA and UN-HABITAT provided all funds of sending experts to the site as well as receiving staff from China. Fukuoka City and Fukuoka University provided technical assistance.

Sustainability and Transferability

  Is the initiative sustainable and transferable?
Wide application of the Fukuoka Method has become possible because it is easily applicable with low cost, its positive effects have been ascertained and its practical use has been successful. Developing and strengthening capability of staff in group training will be effective for introducing the method widely and efficiently in developing countries. Since 1999, JICA has conducted technical training courses of the Fukuoka Method for developing countries in Japan to let the method widely be introduced. Fukuoka City has prepared for sites for training and given technical guidance including on-site training in collaboration with Fukuoka University. We make efforts to strengthen their capability by sharing our knowledge and experiences with supervisors involved in waste disposal in developing countries.
87 supervisors from four countries completed a more-than one month training course. Nearly 1000 supervisors visited landfill sites in Fukuoka City from developing countries in Asia, Latin America and Africa.
With the collaborative support among Fukuoka City, Fukuoka University and International Assistance Agencies, more developing countries have started to adopt the Fukuoka Method. The efforts of improving landfill sites have been spread worldwide.

Lessons Learned

 What are the impact of your initiative and the lessons learned?
The Fukuoka Method has become technically available in the way in which developing countries are able to apply. The material of leachate collection pipes and gas drainage pipes have so many options that materials easily available in developing countries are utilized as alternatives. Therefore despite limited fund and technology, stepwise improvement of an open dumping system has become possible.
With personnel in charge of landfill in developing countries recognizing these facts, the Fukuoka Method has received a high evaluation as an appropriate technology. Their motivation for improvement has increased and more cities have started projects. As a result we have made a positive achievement.
In addition, JICA and UN-HABITAT have recognized the approach of improving landfill by introducing the Fukuoka Method and then have started projects of technical guidance and training by sending experts under the partnership with Fukuoka City and Fukuoka University.

Contact Information

Institution Name:   Environmental Bureau, Fukuoka City
Institution Type:   Government Agency  
Contact Person:   Hideaki Maruo
Title:   Director, ICT Promotion &　Public Management Reform  
Telephone/ Fax:   +81-92-711-4156 (ext.1142) c/o Ms.Uezono
Institution's / Project's Website:   +81-92-711-4117 c/o Ms.Uezono
E-mail:   uezono.k01@city.fukuoka.lg.jp  
Address:   1-8-1　Cyuoku Tennzinn
Postal Code:   810-8620
City:   Fukuoka
State/Province:   Fukuoka
Country:   Japan

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