GomiMate (ゴミメイト) is a mobile app for iOS and Android (currently in private beta) that manages garbage collection schedules in Japan. It downloads the official pickup calendar for your exact city block, sends push notification reminders the night before and again on collection morning, and provides a searchable guide to Japan's complex waste-sorting categories across English, Japanese, Chinese, Indonesian, Hindi, Korean, Arabic, and Malaysian Malay.

How do I find my garbage collection schedule in Japan?

There are two ways to get your garbage collection schedule in Japan using GomiMate: (1) Select your ward or city in the app and it automatically downloads the official garbage collection calendar for your specific block from your local government. (2) Walk to your nearest collection station and scan the garbage slip posted there — GomiMate reads the schedule instantly using your camera. Most users are fully set up within 2 minutes.

Which cities and wards in Japan does GomiMate support?

GomiMate's public guides currently cover all 23 special wards of Tokyo (including Shibuya-ku, Shinjuku-ku, Minato-ku, Setagaya-ku, and Koto-ku), all Osaka City wards, and all Kobe City wards. The private beta app is expanding municipality coverage across Japan. Join the waitlist and we will confirm your area before inviting you.

What types of garbage are collected in Japan and how do I sort them?

Japanese municipalities typically separate waste into five or more categories: (1) Burnable waste (燃えるごみ / 可燃ごみ) — food scraps, dirty paper, rubber, leather; (2) Non-burnable waste (不燃ごみ) — small metal and glass items, ceramics, lighters; (3) Recyclable waste (資源ごみ) — PET bottles, cans, glass bottles, cardboard, newspapers; (4) Bulky waste (粗大ごみ) — furniture, bicycles, large appliances that require advance reservation; (5) Hazardous waste (有害ごみ) — fluorescent tubes, dry-cell batteries, spray cans. Exact categories and collection days vary by ward. GomiMate's sort guide lets you search any item to find the correct category for your specific municipality.

Do I need an internet connection to check my garbage calendar in GomiMate?

No. After your initial setup, GomiMate saves the full schedule offline on your device. You can check what to put out today or browse the full 2-week calendar without any internet connection. An internet connection is only needed when first setting up your location, using the Scan feature to import a new schedule, or syncing schedule updates from your municipality.

How do I get access to GomiMate?

GomiMate is currently in private beta with invite-only access. To request early access, enter your email address on the GomiMate website. We will send an invitation when your spot is ready. Pricing for the full release has not yet been announced.

What languages does GomiMate support?

GomiMate supports English, Japanese, Chinese, Indonesian, Hindi for India, Korean, Arabic, and Malaysian Malay on the website, with app localization expanding across the same languages. The Japanese experience keeps optional furigana reading aids for learners.

How do I get a reminder before garbage collection day in Japan?

GomiMate automatically sends push notifications before each collection day, including the evening before and an optional collection-morning nudge. After setting up your location, notifications are enabled by default. You can customize the reminder time, choose which waste categories to be notified about, and enable a second reminder on the morning of collection day — all from the Settings screen.

What is a garbage collection slip (ゴミ収集票) in Japan?

A garbage collection slip (ゴミ収集票 or ゴミカレンダー) is a paper schedule issued by your local ward office that lists which type of garbage is collected on which days for your specific collection station. It is usually posted at your nearest designated garbage collection point. GomiMate can scan this slip with your phone's camera and automatically import the schedule into the app.

How does garbage sorting work for expats and foreigners in Japan?

Japan's garbage sorting system is one of the strictest in the world and varies by municipality, making it confusing for newcomers. Rules typically require separating waste into burnable, non-burnable, recyclables (further split into plastics, PET bottles, glass, cans, paper), and bulky items. Bags must often be transparent, items must be clean, and collection only happens on designated days. GomiMate was designed for this challenge: it shows your exact schedule, explains the rules in English, and reminds you the night before and again on collection morning so you never miss a collection or receive a rejection sticker on your bag.

Can I use GomiMate for multiple addresses in Japan?

Yes. Once GomiMate launches publicly, multiple location profiles will be supported — for example, your home in Shibuya, your office in Shinjuku, or a family address in Yokohama. Each location shows its own independent collection schedule and reminders.

What happens if I put out the wrong type of garbage in Japan?

Incorrectly sorted garbage is typically left uncollected. Collection workers attach a rejection sticker (収集不可 or 出し直し) to the bag explaining the problem. The bag must then be taken back and put out correctly on the right collection day. Repeated violations can lead to a warning from your local ward office. GomiMate's sort guide and schedule reminders help prevent this by telling you exactly what to put out, and when.

Japan trash-day companion

Japan garbage collection,
made simple

GomiMate is an iOS & Android mobile app (currently in beta) that auto-syncs Japan's official garbage collection schedules and sends night-before and morning reminders. Public guides cover Tokyo, Osaka, and Kobe, with beta coverage expanding across Japan.

Private beta for residents across Japan

21:24

GOMIMATE

Garbage Calendar

May 3, 2026 · Today's Garbage

No collection today

2-Week Calendar

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

Burnable

Recyclable

Non-burnable

Bulky Waste

Hazardous

Next Pickups

🪨

Non-burnable

May 4 (Mon)

Tomorrow

🔥

Burnable

May 5 (Tue)

In 2 days

♻️

Recyclable

May 6 (Wed)

⚠️

Hazardous

May 7 (Thu)

Ward guides live

City guide hubs

Tokyo wards covered

Languages

Multilingual access

Garbage rules in Japan, explained in 8 languages.

GomiMate is built for residents, international students, expats, workers, and families who need practical guidance without decoding municipal PDFs.

GomiMate supports English, Japanese, Chinese, Indonesian, Hindi for India, Korean, Arabic, and Malaysian Malay across the website, with app localization expanding across the same languages.

Why GomiMate

Everything you need
to master Japanese sorting

Complex rules made simple. GomiMate translates local ward regulations into a beautiful, easy-to-use daily companion.

Smart Calendar

Automatically syncs with your specific neighborhood's collection schedule. See what needs to go out today, tomorrow, and next week at a glance.

月

Burnable

火

PET Bottles

Reminder set

Sort Guide

Not sure if that plastic wrapper is burnable or recyclable? Search our comprehensive local database instantly. No more guessing.

plastic wrap…

Burnable

Laminated Wrap

Recyclable

PET Bottles

Scan Your Schedule

Got a paper collection notice from your ward office? Just scan it. GomiMate reads the schedule automatically and sets everything up for you.

Schedule detected

App Preview

Your friendly neighborhood expert.

Moving to Japan is hard enough. Understanding the 10+ categories of garbage sorting doesn't have to be. Let our mascot guide you through local rules with a smile.

Live guides for Tokyo, Osaka, and Kobe
Customizable night-before and morning push notifications
8-language support
Offline mode for quick checks

Join the Beta Waitlist

Getting Started

Set up in 3 easy steps

Step 1

Get your schedule — two ways

Select your ward

Find your city and we auto-download the official calendar for your block.

Scan the slip

Snap the garbage slip at your nearest collection station — done in seconds.

Step 2

Your schedule is set

GomiMate syncs the official calendar for your exact block to your app instantly.

Step 3

Get notified

Receive friendly reminders the night before and again on collection morning.

Have Questions?

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about GomiMate.

Ready to Take Out the Trash?

Join the waitlist for early beta access.

Invite-only beta access — spots are limited.

Japan garbage collection,made simple

Garbage Calendar

Garbage rules in Japan, explained in 8 languages.

Everything you needto master Japanese sorting

Smart Calendar

Sort Guide

Scan Your Schedule

Your friendly neighborhood expert.

Set up in 3 easy steps

Get your schedule — two ways

Your schedule is set

Get notified

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my city supported?

Do I need an internet connection to check the calendar?

What languages are supported?

How do I get access to GomiMate?

What are the main types of garbage in Japan?

What happens if I put out garbage on the wrong day in Japan?

How do I know what day to put out each type of garbage?

Why do garbage rules differ between Japanese cities?

Ready to Take Out the Trash?

Japan garbage collection,
made simple

Everything you need
to master Japanese sorting