Trash Cans Installed in Nara Park for 1st Time in 40 Years

Nara, March 6 (Jiji Press)--Trash cans have been installed in Nara Park, a popular tourist spot known for its many deer, for the first time in some 40 years. 

Trash cans had been removed as a measure to protect the park's deer, a state-designated natural monument. But they were put back to combat littering, which became a major problem as visitors increased.

"We've decided to install them to improve convenience for tourists and protect the deer, although there are pros and cons," a Nara prefectural government official said.

According to the prefecture, trash cans were removed from the park in 1985 to stop the deer from eating garbage. The park was kept clean by prefectural workers and volunteers, while visitors were asked to take their garbage home.

However, littering increased as many tourists, especially those from abroad, had trouble finding places to dispose of trash.

This led to health issues for deer that eat the garbage. A survey by a protection group found plastic waste in the stomachs of nine of the 14 deer that died in the park from unknown causes in 2019.

The prefectural government conducted a one-month trial from mid-January in which three trash cans were installed both inside and outside the bus terminal in the park.

It decided to keep the trash cans on a permanent basis after finding that littering is mostly caused by visitors bringing food into the park.

"There is no problem in installing trash cans permanently," a prefectural government official said.

The trash cans have covers to keep the deer out. The prefecture said that it is considering installing more trash cans.

"I didn't know there were no trash cans in this park," said Yua Yamamoto, a 21-year-old university student. "Six trash cans are too few for such a large park. More should be installed."

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