In recent years, environmental problems have become more serious, and ecology and recycling have become commonplace in our lives.
Nowadays, when awareness of such an environment is increasing, the lifestyle of Edo is a model for us today.
As I mentioned a little when I wrote an article about living in Edo, the people of Edo have had an ideal eco-life that is still valid today. In fact, living in Edo was almost never wasted, and I made good use of scarce resources.
It's an eco-friendly life.
Environmental measures in Edo
The shogunate took the lead in taking environmental measures at that time, and it will take shape about 50 years after the beginning of the Edo era. 1655 Garbage throwing is prohibited Eiyojima is a garbage dump became. Landfill policy as it is now Was already started around this time.
1666 Yamakawa Law decree In order to prevent the devastation of the land due to reckless development, the shogunate will issue a policy prohibiting further development.
In the middle of Edo, Nitta development became popular, but it was only a small part of the whole country. The shogunate always focused on the development of agricultural technology and was careful not to destroy the natural environment.
Edo Recycling Business
This kind of ecological feeling was also possessed by the common people. Even though it was banned from throwing garbage, the common people originally didn't put out so much garbage.
Used clothing store, paper collector, tinker, lantern store Various recyclers such as Was in the town of Edo.
Collecting human excretion as a symbolic recycling that is impossible in modern times [ Under fertilizer removal ].
The business is to sell the excrement as fertilizer to farmers.
The price of excrement for one year is equivalent to Ichito Yone (about 14 kg) It is said that it was. Also, it is said that the excrement of high-ranking people is eating good food, and it was traded at a high price. It was regularly carried out of the moat of Edo Castle.
The town of Edo does not have a sewerage system, but the mouth of the Sumida River was clear enough to catch white fish. On the other hand, rivers were polluted in Paris and London, which had complete sewerage systems.
Some recyclers [ buy ash There was also a trader who said. Ash is used as a catalyst for fertilizers and dyes, and as a chemical for making sake . It was done. Besides, repairing pottery [ Burning shop ], Collect the iron scraps thrown away at the bottom of the river [ Yonageya ] And so on, there was no waste anyway.
Currently, the resource recycling system for maintaining the environment requires elements such as reuse, regeneration, and rental, but Edo had all the elements. The high awareness of the people of Edo for environmental conservation must be emulated by us today.