Japan takes garbage very seriously. Sorting rules vary by municipality — but the basics apply almost everywhere. Get it wrong and your trash won’t be collected, or worse, you’ll get a warning notice.
The Basic Categories
| Japanese | English | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| 燃えるごみ / 可燃ごみ | Burnable / Combustible | Food scraps, paper, tissue, wood, leather |
| 燃えないごみ / 不燃ごみ | Non-burnable | Small metal, glass, ceramics, umbrellas |
| 資源ごみ | Recyclable | Bottles, cans, cardboard, newspapers |
| 粗大ごみ | Large garbage | Furniture, appliances, bicycles |
| 危険ごみ | Hazardous | Batteries, lighters, spray cans |
Plastic Rules
Plastic sorting is the trickiest part:
- Plastic packaging (プラスチック / プラ) — most soft plastic packaging with the プラ mark goes to recyclables
- Hard plastic — often goes to non-burnable or burnable depending on your city
- PET bottles — separated from other plastics; must be rinsed, label and cap removed
Step-by-Step: How to Sort Correctly
1. Get Your City’s Garbage Calendar
Every city provides a ゴミカレンダー (garbage calendar) showing which type of trash is collected on which days. Get yours at:
- City hall (市役所) when you register
- Most cities have an app or PDF version online
- Search “[your city name] ゴミ カレンダー”
2. Buy the Right Bags
Many cities require designated garbage bags (指定ごみ袋) sold at convenience stores and supermarkets. Using the wrong bag = your trash won’t be collected.
3. Put Out Trash on Collection Morning
Trash must be out by 8am on collection day at your designated spot (not the night before in most areas).
4. Remove All Labels and Caps from Bottles
Bottles and cans must be:
- Rinsed out
- Labels peeled off (or crushed and separated)
- Caps removed and sorted separately
Large Garbage (粗大ごみ)
Furniture, bikes, appliances — these can’t go in regular trash. You must:
- Call your city’s粗大ごみ受付 (large waste hotline) or book online
- Buy a 粗大ごみ処理券 (disposal ticket) from a convenience store
- Leave item at the designated spot on the pickup date
Tip: Check Jimoty first — someone might want your old furniture for free.
Useful Apps
- Smashrup / GomiApp — city-specific garbage sorting guidance in English
- Your city’s official app (many now offer multilingual support)
- Google Translate — take a photo of the garbage rule booklet and translate
Common Mistakes Foreigners Make
| Mistake | What to Do Instead |
|---|---|
| Putting food in non-burnable | Food waste = burnable |
| Not rinsing bottles | Rinse all bottles before recycling |
| Wrong collection day | Check your garbage calendar |
| No designated bag | Buy city-specific bags at konbini |
| Dumping large items on street | Book 粗大ごみ pickup |