Mizusawa City Adopts an Original Environmental Management System

Mizusawa City, Iwate Prefecture in northern Japan, adopted and put into practice an original environmental management system (EMS) in February 2004 as a substitute for an ISO 14001 system.

The city obtained ISO certification three years ago, in 2001. On the assumption that its experience over these three years would enable it to operate a local, original EMS, the city decided to introduce its own system instead of the ISO 14001 system. It will hold discussions about the introduction of external audits by citizens or other municipalities, and plans to be more active than formerly in publishing the details of the new system's objectives, targets, progress and achievements.

In fiscal 2002, the city reduced its consumption of electrical power by 5.4 percent, gas by 4.5 percent, heavy oil by 10.6 percent, water by 17.5 percent, and official vehicle fuel by 15.8 percent, as compared to figures for the pre-certification fiscal year 1999. In addition, the amount of copy paper and paper waste were cut by 21.4 percent and 20.2 percent, respectively. As a result, nearly 4 million yen (about U.S. $ 37,400) were saved in 2002.



Posted: 2004/04/26 04:28:36 PM
Japanese version