Guide
Garbage Sorting & Recycling in Japan: Guide for Foreigners
Last updated: March 2026
Japan takes garbage sorting seriously — very seriously. Your trash must be separated into specific categories and put out on designated days. Getting it wrong can lead to your garbage being left behind with a warning sticker, complaints from neighbors, or a visit from your building manager.
The good news: once you learn the system, it becomes second nature. This guide covers the standard categories, collection schedules, and the mistakes that catch most foreigners.
Rules vary by city — check your local guide
Every municipality has its own rules, collection days, and bag requirements. When you move in, your ward office or landlord should provide a garbage sorting guide (ゴミの出し方). Many cities offer multilingual versions. This guide covers the common national patterns — always verify with your local rules.
Main Garbage Categories
Burnable Garbage (燃えるゴミ / 可燃ゴミ)
Collected 2-3 times per week (most frequent)
- ✓ Kitchen waste and food scraps (drain water first)
- ✓ Paper (tissues, paper towels, food-stained paper)
- ✓ Rubber and leather items
- ✓ Cloth and clothing (small amounts)
- ✓ Wood chips and small branches
- ✓ Diapers (remove solid waste first)
- ✓ Plastic that is food-contaminated (dirty food containers)
Non-Burnable Garbage (燃えないゴミ / 不燃ゴミ)
Collected 1-2 times per month
- ✓ Ceramics, pottery, broken dishes
- ✓ Glass (broken — wrap in newspaper, label "危険" / kiken = dangerous)
- ✓ Small metal items (pots, frying pans, cutlery)
- ✓ Small electronics (hairdryers, irons — varies by city)
- ✓ Light bulbs (NOT fluorescent — those are separate)
- ✓ Umbrellas
Plastic Containers & Packaging (プラスチック / 容器包装プラスチック)
Collected 1-2 times per week
- ✓ Plastic bottles (caps and labels removed — see PET below)
- ✓ Food trays and containers (rinse clean)
- ✓ Plastic bags and wrapping
- ✓ Shampoo and detergent bottles (rinsed)
- ✓ Styrofoam trays
Look for the プラ mark on packaging — items with this mark go in plastic recycling.
PET Bottles (ペットボトル)
Collected 1 time per week (or at collection points)
- ✓ Beverage bottles marked with PET recycling symbol
- ✓ Remove cap and label (caps go in plastic, labels go in plastic)
- ✓ Rinse inside lightly
- ✓ Crush flat to save space
Cans, Bottles & Paper (缶・瓶・古紙)
Collected 1-2 times per week / per month
Cans (缶)
- Aluminum and steel cans
- Rinse inside
- Crush if possible
Bottles (瓶)
- Glass bottles
- Rinse, remove caps
- Separate by color in some cities
Paper (古紙)
- Newspapers, magazines, cardboard
- Bundle with string
- Keep dry
Oversized Garbage (粗大ゴミ)
By appointment only — requires fee
- Furniture, mattresses, bicycles, large appliances
- Generally items larger than 30cm in any dimension
- Call your city's oversized garbage center or apply online
- Purchase disposal stickers (粗大ゴミ処理券) at convenience stores
- Attach sticker and place outside on your scheduled date
- Cost: ¥200-2,800 per item depending on size
Collection Schedule
Garbage must be put out on the correct day, in the correct location, and before the morning collection time (usually 8:00-8:30 AM). A typical weekly schedule looks like:
| Day | Example Category |
|---|---|
| Monday & Thursday | Burnable garbage |
| Tuesday | Plastic containers & packaging |
| Wednesday | Cans, bottles, PET bottles |
| Friday | Burnable garbage |
| 1st & 3rd Saturday | Non-burnable, paper recycling |
This is an example — your actual schedule depends on your address. Check the calendar provided by your ward office or building management. Many cities have garbage calendar apps.
Common Mistakes Foreigners Make
Putting garbage out the night before
Garbage should be put out on the morning of collection, not the night before. Animals (crows, cats) will tear open bags overnight, creating a mess that you are expected to clean up.
Not rinsing containers
Food trays, PET bottles, and cans should be rinsed before disposal. Dirty containers may be rejected or contaminate recyclables.
Using the wrong bag
Some cities require designated bags. Using the wrong bag (opaque, wrong color, wrong size) will get your garbage rejected.
Mixing garbage categories
Putting plastic in burnable, or cans in non-burnable. Each category has its own bag and collection day.
Putting garbage at the wrong collection point
Each building or neighborhood has a designated garbage collection point (ゴミ集積所). Don't use someone else's collection point. Ask your landlord or neighbors where yours is.
How to Dispose of Special Items
| Item | How to Dispose |
|---|---|
| Batteries | Collection boxes at electronics stores, convenience stores, or ward office |
| Fluorescent lights | Separate collection (harmful waste). Check local schedule. |
| Spray cans | Empty completely. Puncture in some cities (check local rules). Separate from other cans. |
| Cooking oil | Absorb with paper/cloth and put in burnable garbage. NEVER pour down the drain. |
| TV, fridge, washer, AC | Home Appliance Recycling Law. Pay recycling fee (¥1,000-5,000) at post office, arrange pickup through retailer. |
| PC / laptop | Manufacturer take-back program or designated collection (リネットジャパン offers free mail-in recycling). |
| Cardboard boxes | Flatten, bundle with string, put out on paper recycling day. Supermarkets often have collection boxes too. |
Tips for Getting It Right
Get your city's garbage app. Many cities have apps (e.g., "5374" / gomi nashi) that show your collection schedule with reminders. Search "[your city name] ゴミ アプリ" in the app store.
Keep the sorting guide on your fridge. Your ward office guide has pictures of what goes where. Tape it somewhere visible until sorting becomes automatic.
Use multiple small bins at home. One for burnable, one for plastic, one for cans/bottles. Makes collection-day sorting much easier.
When in doubt, it's probably burnable. If you genuinely can't figure out a category, burnable garbage is the safest default for most household items (except metal, glass, and electronics).
Disclaimer: Garbage rules vary significantly by municipality. This guide covers common patterns. Always check your local ward office or building management for specific rules, designated bags, and collection schedules.
Related Guides
Renting in Japan →
Your landlord should provide garbage sorting rules when you move in.
Setting Up Utilities →
Electricity, gas, water, and internet — the other move-in essentials.
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