A Guide To Garbage Disposal In Japan

​If you have moved to Japan, one of the first things you'll need to do is to get hold of your town's trash guide.

In Japan, garbage is basically categorized into four types; Combustible, Incombustible, Bottles and Cans, and Oversized Garbage.

Keep in mind that each city has its own rules, but in general, the rules are pretty similar.

Moreover, garbage collection dates and hours differ depending on the area.
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In Japan, improper garbage disposal ranks among the top reasons for frictions between neighbors. This is because the neighborhood bears the responsibility for the proper separation and collection of waste. So, to avoid any trouble in the community it is important to follow local rules for trash collection.

When throwing away household garbage, you first have to check what type of trash is picked up on that day. Pay special attention to the collection days so that you don’t end up missing it and have to keep your trash in your house or balcony for another few days, a week or more. Also take note that trash generally is not collected on national holidays.

Usually above where the garbage is collected there is a guide showing which days what type of trash is collected. The waste collectors come to take the trash away early in the morning, so you must bag it up and place it in the designated pickup area in the morning before they come, or the night before, normally after 9pm. The rope, semi-transparent bags and small boxes that you might need for disposing the different types of garbage are sold in supermarkets and for slightly cheaper prices in 100 yen shops.

City halls have garbage sorting rules available to view on their websites. On Yokohama City website for example you can view the leaflet and download it in several languages.

Types Of Garbage

Combustible - Burnable trash (燃えるごみ - moeru gomi), which normally is collected on two days a week, includes Kitchen garbage (wastepaper, kitchen roll, food waste, diapers, etc.) wood, plastic bags, wrappers, tubes and other plastic containers (shampoo, toothpaste, cooking oil, etc.). Bottle labels and bottle caps will go with the regular waste; however, the bottles themselves should be separated into a different bag and usually will be collected on different days.

Incombustible - Non-burnable trash (燃えないごみ - moenai gomi), usually is collected once a month and includes makeup and medicine containers, fluorescent lights, light bulbs, Glass, chinaware (teacups, plates, flower vases, etc.). They should be placed in a box or wrapped in newspaper and labeled properly for disposal.

Bottles & Cans - Bottles and cans (資源ごみ - shigen gomi), which usually are collected once a week, includes empty glass containers, PET bottles, tin cans and aluminum cans.

Bottles, Cans and PET bottles’ inside must be rinsed and put in separate garbage bags. The PET bottles’ Wrap-around labels and caps should be removed, and disposed with the regular waste.

PET bottles however, do not necessarily need to be thrown away with other cans and bottles. There are several supermarket chains which actually encourage customers to recycle their bottles at their stores.

PET Bottle Recycling Machine

Find one in your neighborhood and sign up for the store’s point card scheme. Normally, outside the entrance of such supermarket you will find recycling machines. For each PET bottle you put into the machine, you’ll get one store point, which later can be redeemed when you shop in the store. This process is done for paper and cardboard which the store points you receive are measured and allocated differently. This prevents waste, and also over time you will notice a little savings in your point card.
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Oversized Garbage - Collection of large-sized garbage (粗大ごみ -  sodai-gomi) is handled by a special collection service for a pick-up fee, usually on an appointment basis, or by dropping it off at designated collection sites.

Items which include metal with the length of 30 centimeters or longer, and those not including metal with the length of 50 centimeters or longer are considered as oversized garbage (furniture, bicycles, etc.). 

Yokohama Sodai-gomi Collection Sticker

The procedure is more or less the same throughout Japan. In Yokohama you can do this by calling the Oversized Garbage Reception Center, or apply on Internet. If you are applying online click the link on their website "orange button" and follow the steps.

• Click on "Apply for the first time" link, and on the next page type your Email address and press send.
• You will receive an Email containing a link which is valid for 15 minutes. Click on the link and visit the site.
• On the form that you are filling out, everything will be in English except your name which should be in “Katakana”.
• On next page you will be shown a list of items which they accept to pickup with the price in front of it. Choose the item(s) you want to apply for.
• Next you will be choosing from the available pickup dates on a color coded calendar. Confirm the details and press send.
• You will receive an Email that confirms the receipt of your inquiry. The second Email will be sent to you within 1 to 3 days, accepting your application, and containing all the details you need to know.
• Purchase oversized-garbage collection sticker (粗大ごみ処理券 – sodai gomi shoriken), for the item(s) you applied for. You have the price(s) in the Email you have received. You can buy the stickers from banks, post offices or convenience stores.
• Attach the oversized-garbage sticker(s) to what you are disposing and put it out on the day of collection at the designated pickup area. (The night before collection day, you’ll receive a reminder by Email).

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Some of home appliances such as TV sets, air-conditioners, washing machines/clothes dryers, and refrigerators/freezers are not picked up as oversize trash. For those items you should do one of the followings:

• Contact the store from which you bought the item and ask about their recycling policy and collection charge.
• If you are replacing the item with new one, ask the store where you are buying the new one to collect the old one.
• If you only need to dispose the old one and don't know where the item was purchased, contact your local authority "City Hall", and ask about an appropriate procedure (Home Appliance Recycling Center).
• You can carry and drop it off at the local designated collection sites; contact the local authority.

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Besides the public sodai-gomi option, there are other choices. One is the private trash collectors that are occasionally seen driving around in residential areas on small trucks. They might pick it up for free or even pay you for your item if it still is in good condition. Another option is the second hand shops. Same as the collectors on small trucks they might buy it from you; of course they might not pay you anything or charge you for disposing it.

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Travelers And Waste Disposal In Public Places

Travelers walking around the cities in Japan might feel absolutely confused about where to throw trash? The number of public garbage cans in Japan is very small, and people are often asked to bring their trash home for disposal, even when you don’t live here.

You may ask what the locals do! While walking the streets, the best you are likely to find are vending machines which have an attached container for PET bottles, bins and cans. Places where public garbage cans can be found include train stations and convenience stores, where there are cans for different types of trash.

​Keep in mind that not all train stations have trash bins, and the ones in convenience stores are for customer use. So, it is best to be ready to carry your garbage a little longer till you get back to home, or to the hotel you stay if you are a traveler.

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​More Resources:

• Ryokan
• Work In Japan
• Marriage In Japan