Garbage
Garbage rules in Japan are strict, and vary from area to area, even within cities. Below are some general guidelines that may or may not apply to you. Get information on rules for separation and disposal from your city/ward office, and check the procedures for your own building.
Burnable
Kitchen waste, tissues, scrap paper, rubber products, leather products, CDs, videotapes, clothing, disposable diapers, cooking oil, plastic containers that cannot be washed
Disposal:
Put out on the morning of collection day in clear plastic bags.
Unburnable
Glass (other than bottles and jars), metals, ceramics, spray cans, gas canisters, lighters, small electronics, electric and fluorescent light bulbs.
Disposal:
Put out on morning of collection day in clear plastic bags, labeled with contents.
Plastics
Cleaned out plastic food containers, Styrofoam, plastic bags and sheeting, hangers, toothbrushes, straws etc.
Disposal:
Put out on the morning of collection day in clear plastic bags.
Food and Drink Recyclables
Plastic (pet) bottles, food and drinks cans, glass bottles and jars. Caps, lids and labels should be removed and disposed of in the appropriate category.
Disposal:
Specialized containers are placed in streets the day prior to collection – blue net bags for plastic bottles, yellow crates for glass containers and blue crates for cans.
Paper and Cardboard
Newspapers, magazines, papers and cardboard (including clean cardboard food and drinks cartons).
Disposal:
Sort by type, bind with string and place loose outside at designated collection points.
Oversized Waste
Furniture, bulky bedding, medium and large appliances (excluding refrigerators, washing machines, computers, TVs and air conditioners), bicycles etc.
Disposal:
Oversized garbage in most of the 23 wards area of Tokyo is handled by the Large Sized Waste Reception Center (Check the web site for contact information: https://sodai.tokyokankyo,or.jp/Sodai/V2Index/0/1 ). Set up a date for the collection and describe the type and size of item you wish to dispose of, either by phone or in person. Fees for collection are paid by buying disposal stickers up to a value determined by the size and type of the item. If you call to arrange the disposal, you can buy these stickers at a convenience store. Place the stickers on the item and put it outside on the day agreed upon. Disposal for home appliances not handled as oversized waste can be arranged for a fee, either through the original store of purchase or through a private recycling company.
Garbage Marks
The following marks appear on items to make it easier to identify which kind of garbage they fall under.
