Complete collection schedules, Kobe's official household designated bags, and ward-by-ward guides for all 9 Kobe City wards (神戸市9区). Kobe's system differs from both Tokyo and Osaka — including a unique monthly paper & cloth bundling category not found in other major cities.
Paper & cloth (古紙・古布) is a distinct monthly category unique to Kobe's system — newspapers, cardboard, and magazines must be tied in bundles with string and not placed in bags. Old clothing is bundled separately, same collection day.
Kobe City says prices are market prices set by retailers and the bag price does not include a disposal fee. Bags are sold at supermarkets, convenience stores, home centres, and drug stores across Kobe City. Spray cans and cassette gas cylinders use a separate see-through bag, not the non-burnable designated bag. Official source: Kobe City household designated bags.
| Ward | Population | Area | Density/km² | Burnable Days | Foreign Res. % | Official Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Higashinada Ward 東灘区 |
213,000 | 31.72 km² | 6,716 | Monday & Thursday | 3.8% | Official ↗ |
| Nada Ward 灘区 |
142,000 | 32.9 km² | 4,316 | Tuesday & Friday | 4.2% | Official ↗ |
| Hyogo Ward 兵庫区 |
105,000 | 13.52 km² | 7,766 | Wednesday & Saturday | 6.1% | Official ↗ |
| Nagata Ward 長田区 |
96,000 | 11.36 km² | 8,451 | Monday & Thursday | 7.9% | Official ↗ |
| Suma Ward 須磨区 |
156,000 | 29.91 km² | 5,216 | Tuesday & Friday | 2.9% | Official ↗ |
| Tarumi Ward 垂水区 |
217,000 | 29.22 km² | 7,427 | Monday & Thursday | 2.4% | Official ↗ |
| Kita Ward 北区 |
219,000 | 240.24 km² | 912 | Wednesday & Saturday | 1.6% | Official ↗ |
| Chuo Ward 中央区 |
140,000 | 29.87 km² | 4,686 | Tuesday & Friday | 8.7% | Official ↗ |
| Nishi Ward 西区 |
256,000 | 138.25 km² | 1,852 | Monday & Thursday | 2.1% | Official ↗ |
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Kobe City uses four household designated bag categories: burnable waste, non-burnable waste, cans/bottles/PET bottles, and plastic containers and packaging. The official bag specification says burnable bags are sky-blue semi-transparent, while the other household designated bags are transparent. Bags are sold at supermarkets, convenience stores, home centres, and drug stores across the city.
Newspapers, cardboard, magazines, and books (古紙) are collected once a month in most Kobe districts — typically the 1st Tuesday of the month. Tie them in bundles with string and place at the collection point. Do NOT put them in bags. Old clothing (古布) is collected the same day in a separate bundle. This bundling requirement is unique to Kobe among Kansai's major cities and catches many new residents by surprise.
Kobe requires Kobe-approved household designated bags for four regular categories. Osaka City uses ordinary transparent or semi-transparent see-through bags and says it does not manufacture or sell a specific household garbage bag. Tokyo ward rules vary ward by ward, though many wards accept containers or transparent/semi-transparent bags. Kobe also has a monthly paper & cloth bundling category.
Apply online at kobe.lg.jp or call 078-302-1973. Fees range from ¥400 to ¥2,200 per item depending on size. After booking, pay the fee at any convenience store using the issued payment code, then attach the sticker to the item before your scheduled pickup day. Book at least 5 business days in advance — during the March–April moving season, slots can fill within a day or two of opening.
Yes. Kita Ward (北区) — Kobe's largest ward by area — contains mountain settlements where refuse trucks cannot reach. Those residents use a bring-in system (持込み収集), delivering waste to a community collection centre on the scheduled day. Use GomiMate or the city's address lookup tool to check whether your address falls under roadside collection or bring-in collection.