Garbage Sorting and Recycling in Japan: A Foreigner's Guide (2025)
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: ...