Throwing Out Garbage In Japan
Garbage is not just something you can throw away easily, there is a large level of preparation needed before you can pitch things out in the bin and it pays to understand it so that you can make sure your neighbors are pleased with you. ๐
I mean, the Japanese have got to love the environment to have even dedicated a holiday to nature known as Greenery Day!
In this handy guide – we will explain the ins and outs of throwing things out, including how to clean your trash and separate it, as well as the vocabulary that you will need to understand signs associated with it. We will also go over how to throw out oversized garbage, including how to schedule a pickup and where to purchase the stickers you need for a pickup.
Regular Garbage
Recyclables
Plastic Container Recyclables
Non-burnable Garbage
Oversized Garbage
Common Garbage Vocabulary Terms
Regular Garbage
In Japan, regular or non-recyclable garbage is referred to as ็ใใใใฟ (moyasu gomi) or ๅฏ็ใใฟ (kanen gomi). Both refer to burnable trash. Items that are considered burnable trash are things like food waste, old clothes, and paper waste.
The term ็ใใฟ (nama gomi) is used to describe kitchen waste, such as fruit/vegetable peel, egg shells, and any other food item that may leave an unpleasant odor if left in the trash for too long. Japanese people often separate their ็ใใฟ (nama gomi) or raw garbage in a separate bag and throw it out right away or wrap it up in a newspaper to prevent bad smells. This is particularly important in the summer as Japanโs summers can get quite humid and hot.
็ใใใใฟ (moyasu gomi) is usually picked up by the city twice per week. Depending on where you live, there may be a garbage room where you can leave your trash at any time or you may have to take out the trash on your own. If you have to do it on your own, youโll likely see an area on the street where people leave their trash out on the morning of pick up days. Thereโs usually a net covering the trash to prevent crows from getting to the trash. Please also take note of the time you need to take the trash out by. In most cities, you should take out the trash by 8AM.
Recyclables
Recyclables are referred to as ่ณๆบใใฟ (shigen gomi). Recycling is a bit of a big deal in Japan. In Japan, you are expected to separate your recyclables into these three different types: ใซใณ (kan): cans, ใณใ (bin): glass bottles, and ใใใใใใซ (petto botoru): plastic bottles. In Japan, it is best practice to take off the wrapping of plastic bottles before recycling. Most manufacturers in Japan perforate the wrapping on their bottles to make it easier for the consumer to take off the wrapping.
In some cities, foam trays and boxes are included in this type of trash and should be taken out with cans, glass bottles, and plastic bottles.
Cans, glass bottles, and plastic bottles are usually picked up once a week on a designated day of the week. If you must take out the trash on your own, you can leave your recyclables in a designated area on the street on the mornings of pick up days.
Plastic Container Recyclables
In Japan, there is also a class of garbage called ๅฎนๅจๅ ่ฃ ใชใตใคใฏใซ (youki housou risaikuru) which refers to plastic items that have this particular mark on them. Examples of items in this class include plastic shampoo bottles, plastic food trays, and plastic yogurt containers. You should wash and clean these items before sending them out for recycling.
Depending on the city, the designated day for taking out this type of recycling may be different from the cans/plastic bottles/glass bottles day.
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Non-burnable Garbage
There is another type of trash called ็ใใใชใ (moyasanai gomi) or ไธ็ใใฟ (funen gomi) in Japan. Both mean non-burnable trash. Items in this category require more careful handling as they could be dangerous to the environment or people. Examples of ็ใใใชใใใฟ (moyasanai gomi) are glass materials (such as light bulbs, glass containers for makeup or medications), spray cans, cooking pans, knives and lighters.
็ใใใชใใใฟ (moyasanai gomi) is usually picked up twice a month in most cities, usually designated as something like the first and third Friday.
Oversized Garbage
Oversized garbage is called ็ฒๅคงใใฟ (sodai gomi) in Japanese. Each city may have a different definition of what is considered ็ฒๅคงใใฟ (sodai gomi), but itโs usually items over ~30 centimeters in length. Compared to other countries, Japanโs system of throwing out oversized garbage can be quite complicated and you must pay for these services.
Letโs say you want to throw out an old bicycle, you would first have to call or sign up online for a pickup appointment. For disposal of a bicycle, it would cost about 800 yen in Tokyo. After you make your appointment, you will be informed of what type of stickers, or ็ฒๅคงใใฟๅฆ็ๅธ (sodai gomi shori ken) to buy. These stickers are applied to your ็ฒๅคงใใฟ (sodai gomi) as proof of purchase of disposal services. You can buy these stickers from most of your neighborhood convenience stores. On the appointed day of pick up, you can place these stickers on your bike and place it outside for pick up. All that to throw away an old bicycle!
If you moved into a new place, and don’t know where to put the trash away, you can ask real estate agent or landlord,
EX.
ใใใฟใพใใใใดใใฏใฉใใซๅบใใฐใใใงใใ๏ผใWhere should I put the trash away?
Common Garbage Vocabulary Terms
ใใฟใๅบใ (gomi o dasu ) – put garbage away
่ณๆบ (shigen), ใชใตใคใฏใซ – recycle
ๅฎนๅจๅ
่ฃ
(youki housou)- plastic containers
ใใฟ ใๅๅฅใใ (bunbetsu suru) – to separate trash
ใใฟ ใๅ้ใใ (shuushuu) – to collect trash
็บ็ ฒใใฌใค (happou torei) – foam tray
็บ็ ฒในใใญใผใซ (happou suchiro-ru) – foam boxes
ๅค็ด (koshi) – used paper
ใณใ (bin) – glass bottle
็ผถ (kan) – can
ใใใใใใซ (petto botoru) – plastic bottle
็ฒๅคงใใฟ (sodai gomi) – oversized garbage
็ฒๅคงใใฟๅฆ็ๅธ (sodai gomi shori ken) – oversized garbage disposal sticker
็ใใใใฟ (moyasu gomi) – burnable garbage
ๅฏ็ใใฟ (kanen gomi) – burnable garbage
็ใใใชใใใฟ (moyasanai gomi) – un-burnable garbage
ไธ็ใใฟ (funen gomi)- un-burnable garbage
็ใใฟ (nama gomi)- raw garbage
The rules for garbage in Japan are determined by each city and may differ from place to place.
An Additional Note: If you’d like to help keep the environment sustainable and green, remember to refuse the use of plastic bags and convenience stores! A little goes a long way!
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