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Rules/behavior for daily life/Customs |
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2-2 Rules/behavior for daily life: Garbage
(1) Basic rules for putting out garbage, collection days
Household garbage is collected by the municipalities (city, ward, town or village), which must be put out on set days and in a prescribed manner. We advise you to first get a pamphlet concerning garbage treatment from the municipal administrative office, so as to confirm on the locations, days and times of garbage collection as well as on the garbage separation policy. If you live in an apartment or housing complex, you should confirm the matter with the apartment manager.
(2) Garbage separation
Garbage separation policy varies by region. There are three broad categories of garbage for disposal purposes: combustibles, non-combustibles, and bulk garbage. Roughly speaking, garbage is separated as follows:
| Combustibles |
Kitchen and other food garbage, papers, woods, clothes (some of them are treated as recyclables in certain municipalities). |
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| Non-combustibles |
Metals, glasses, porcelains, compact appliances, plastics, rubber products, etc. |
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| Bulk garbage |
Furniture, bedding, home appliances (excluding air conditioner, television, refrigerator and laundry machine) exceeding 30 cubic centimeters in size that become useless in households, bicycles, etc. |
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| Recyclables |
In some municipalities, cans, jars and glass bottles, PET bottles, paper packages, newspapers, etc., are collected separately as recyclables.
* You need to ask the municipal administrative office for a pamphlet with details on garbage separation, so as to comply with the separation policy of that municipality. |
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| Note: |
Different expressions are used for types of trash depending on the region: for example, "Kanen-gomi / Funen-gomi," "Moeru-gomi / Moenai-gomi," "Moyaseru-gomi / Moyasenai-gomi," and so on for distinguishing combustibles and non-combustibles.
It used to be that the items that produce toxic gas when burned or heat up to the extent of damaging the incinerator were generally considered "non-combustibles." Recently, however, municipalities are introducing different criteria on separating garbage, so you need to be careful.
Some types of garbage, even if combustible, must be separated as "non-combustibles" in certain municipalities due to their distinct garbage treatment methods and community rules.
Garbage is separated based on how the municipal rule determines "combustibles" and "non-combustibles," or what they treat as recyclables, rather than whether it is physically combustible.
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(3) Illegal dumping
Garbage disposed of improperly will not be collected. "Illegal dumping," meaning disposing garbage at places other than the set locations without permission, is subject to punishment by law. You should never dump things illegally, as such acts will cause a nuisance to the neighbors and bring negative impacts to the surrounding environment.
(4) Anti-Littering Ordinance
A number of municipalities have stipulated “anti-littering ordinance” to prohibit the littering of cigarette butts and cans on streets and other public space. In serious cases, the offender will be fined or have his/her name publicized. Even if there is no such ordinance, you should never litter.
(5) About how to dispose of bulk garbage
Municipalities have different ways of collecting large size garbage such as furniture and electric appliances (excluding air conditioner, television, refrigerator and laundry machine).
In some places, certain days are set for collecting bulk garbage. In other places, you need to notify the municipal administrative office in advance, and then dispose of the garbage on the assigned day. There are also some places that require you to pay collection fees in advance. Collection fees may vary according to the size and kind of garbage.
Please confirm with the municipality or sanitation office on how to dispose of bulk garbage. Also, when disposing large-scale garbage en masse for moving out, please consult the municipal administrative office.
(6) About items for electric appliance recycling
According to the Home Appliance Recycling Law (Law for Recycling of Specified Kinds of Home Appliances), air conditioner, television, refrigerator and laundry machine cannot be collected for mass disposal. Please request the retailer of original purchase or future purchase for replacement to pick up unnecessary items with fees.
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