Garbage collection in Tokyo
What do you think is essential to have a good relationship with your neighbors? Is it a greeting with a smile? Or not to make too much noise? There must be many that come up to your mind. For people living in Tokyo, what they consider the most important can be proper Gomidashi (ゴミ出し), or properly sorting and disposing of Garbage.
Why is proper Gomidashi so important?
In Tokyo Prefecture, including the 23 wards of Tokyo, garbage collection boxes are generally not provided in public spaces, except in private areas such as apartments and housing complexes. Instead, garbage bags are collected at a designated pickup point on each street block.
Find your pickup point for disposal
Garbage pickup points are designated by the block and the neighbors. It is not permitted to leave garbage bags wherever you like.
Place in a bag for disposal
In general, garbage is put in plastic bags that color must be white, yellow, or transparent. Black-colored bags are not permitted.
Sorting and disposing of garbage properly
House waste is sorted into three categories: combustibles, non-combustibles, and recyclables. The rules for sorting and disposing of garbage differ depending on your district. If you are new to living in Tokyo, it's advisable to visit the local government website for detailed information. Most offices in the 23 wards offer references in several languages.
Sort carefully and follow the pickup schedule
The day and types of waste to be collected are scheduled strictly, and improperly disposed garbage is not collected by garbage trucks. The garbage that is improperly disposed of is left on the street for days or even weeks. This situation sometimes encourages passersby to litter nearby, which can lead to a decline in public safety.
Take out garbage bags in the morning
Garbage bags should be placed at the pickup point in the morning, usually by 8:00 AM. It is important to not leave garbage out at night. Garbage bags left on the street all night long are at risk of being scattered by crows and cats coming up for their supper and early breakfast. What a mess you will see in the next morning. And the problem is, someone in the neighborhood has to clean the mess up, which makes all the neighbors feel uncomfortable. This is actually the one causing problems with neighbors in Tokyo.
Japanese words related to Garbage collection
Combustible garbage
燃えるゴミ (もえるごみ Moeru Gomi)
OR
燃やすゴミ (もやすごみ Moyasu Gomi)
Non-combustible garbage
燃えないゴミ (もえないごみ Moenai Gomi)
OR
燃やさないゴミ (もやさないごみ Moyasanai Gomi)
Large-sized garbage
粗大ゴミ (そだいごみ Sodai Gomi)
Recyclable resources
資源ゴミ (しげんごみ Shigen Gomi)
Garbage collecting day
ゴミ収集日 (ごみしゅうしゅうび Gomi-shushu Bi)
Sorting garbage
ゴミの分別 (ごみのぶんべつ Gomi-no Bunbetsu)
Dispose of garbage
ゴミ出し (ごみだし Gomidashi)
Garbage pickup point
ゴミ集積所 (ごみしゅうせきじょ Gomi Shusekijo)
Garbage truck
ゴミ収集車 (ごみしゅうしゅうしゃ Gomi Shushu-sha)
Garbage bags
ゴミ袋 (ごみぶくろ Gomi Bukuro)
Garbage bin
ゴミ箱 (ごみばこ Gomi-bako)
Garbage net
ゴミネット (ごみねっと Gomi Net)
A net to protect garbage from crows pecking
Crows
カラス (からす Karasu)
