Japan's Home Appliance Recycling Law: What You Cannot Throw Away

The four appliance groups

METI describes the law as covering useful materials from air conditioners, televisions, refrigerators/freezers, and washing machines/clothes dryers. The purpose is to reduce waste and recover resources from appliances that are too complex for ordinary municipal collection.

The important resident-level point is simple: these are not sodai gomi. A sticker for bulky waste does not make a fridge collectible by your ward.

• Air conditioners
• TVs, including modern flat-panel TVs
• Refrigerators and freezers
• Washing machines and clothes dryers

How disposal usually works

The easiest path is often the store selling the replacement appliance. Retailers commonly arrange take-back when delivering a new item. If you are not buying a replacement, ask the original retailer, a participating retailer, or your municipality for the designated process.

You may need to pay both a recycling fee and a transport fee. Some routes use a recycling ticket system, and the required information depends on the appliance type and manufacturer.

Common traps

The most expensive trap is waiting until move-out week. Large appliances may require coordination with a retailer, building elevator rules, transport, and payment. Another trap is assuming a small refrigerator or old TV is just non-burnable waste. It is still covered if it belongs to the regulated category.

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