🗑️ Waste Separation Rules in Japan: What Foreign Residents Need to Know

🗑️ Waste Separation Rules in Japan: What Foreign Residents Need to Know


Living in Japan means adapting to strict waste separation rules.
Each city, ward, or town has its own system, so always check your local municipality’s guidelines before throwing things away.

🔥 Burnable Waste (Moeru Gomi / 可燃ごみ)

  • Kitchen waste, food scraps, paper, small wood items, cloth

  • Collected weekly (frequency varies by city)

👉 Related: Cost of Living in Japan for Foreigners

🧱 Non-Burnable Waste (Moenai Gomi / 不燃ごみ)

  • Metal items, ceramics, glass, small appliances

  • Collected less frequently (e.g., once or twice a month)

💡 Pro Tip: Check collection days carefully, since pickup is rare.

♻️ Plastics in Japan

Everyday Plastic Packaging (「プラ」 mark)

  • Includes food trays, plastic wraps, bottles, containers

  • Must be rinsed before disposal

Other Plastics (depends on municipality)

  • Some cities separate “Plastic Packaging” and “Other Plastics”

👉 Related: Shopping in Japan: What to Expect

🥤 PET Bottles (ペットボトル)

  • Marked with 「PET 1」 symbol

  • Must be emptied, rinsed, and have labels & caps removed

  • Often collected separately from other recyclables

🥫 Cans & Glass Bottles

  • Aluminum cans, steel cans, and glass bottles

  • Some cities require sorting glass bottles by color

  • Must be rinsed before disposal

🛋️ Oversized Garbage (Sodai Gomi / 粗大ごみ)

  • Furniture, large appliances, futons, bikes

  • Requires special pickup reservation and usually a fee

👉 Related: Moving in Japan: Costs and Tips

🌍 Tips for Foreign Residents

✅ Always check the Garbage Separation Guide (ごみ分別表) provided by your city
✅ Use designated garbage bags (some areas require paid bags)
✅ Clean recyclables to prevent pests and odors
✅ Follow the collection calendar to avoid fines or rejected garbage

✅ Conclusion

Garbage separation in Japan is strict, but once you learn the rules it becomes routine.
By following your municipality’s guidelines, you’ll avoid fines, help the environment, and smoothly adapt to life in Japan.

👉 Related: House Contracts in Japan: What Foreign Residents Need to Know

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