Our Mission
Japan has one of the world's most sophisticated waste management systems. The Ministry of the Environment reports about 41.7 million tonnes of general waste per year, managed across 1,741 municipalities, each with its own sorting categories, collection days, and bag requirements.
For residents, expats, international students, and long-time locals, that local complexity is genuinely confusing. GomiMate exists so nobody has to memorise a multi-page pamphlet or risk a rejection sticker on a garbage bag.
GomiMate by the numbers
Japan's Waste System: Why It's Uniquely Complex
Japan's household waste separation system is among the strictest and most varied in the world. About 80% of general household waste is incinerated at more than 1,050 facilities, while landfill capacity remains limited.
Recycling performance is also exceptional: aluminum can recycling is about 97%, and PET bottle recycling reached 87% in FY2022, according to Japanese industry councils.
The modern framework comes from the Waste Management and Public Cleansing Law of 1970. Since 2000, Japan's total waste generation has fallen by more than 25% under the 3R policy: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
Rules change by city and even by neighbouring ward. Yokohama uses 10 categories, Nagoya rebuilt its system after a landfill crisis, and Tokyo's 23 wards operate independently.
The Story
GomiMate started as a personal project after our founder moved to Tokyo and received a rejection sticker during the first week because a PET bottle had gone out on the wrong day.
A simple schedule tracker became useful to friends, neighbours, and other residents. Within six months it had spread to several Tokyo wards by word of mouth.
Today GomiMate publishes live guide coverage for Tokyo, Osaka, Kobe, Yokohama, Kawasaki, Fukuoka, Nagoya, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Saitama, Sapporo, Chiba, and Sagamihara while the private beta app expands across Japan, from first-week newcomers to long-time locals who simply want reliable reminders.
We are a small independent team based in Tokyo. Google-served advertising helps fund the public website, and we do not sell your personal data. GomiMate grows because it solves a real everyday problem.
What we stand for
Inclusive by design
Japan is home to more than 3.2 million foreign residents. GomiMate is built for multilingual households with no assumption of prior knowledge.
Hyper-local accuracy
Collection schedules differ by city, ward, and block. We source official municipal data and keep schedules aligned with each local area.
Privacy first
We collect only what is needed to deliver the service. Advertising and analytics are disclosed in our Privacy Policy; we do not sell personal data or use unnecessary tracking.
Ready to never miss trash day?
Be among the first to simplify your garbage routine with GomiMate. Currently in private beta, with invite access through the waitlist.