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 a push notification reminder the night before each collection day, and provides a searchable guide to Japan's complex waste-sorting categories — in English and Japanese.

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 supports all 23 special wards of Tokyo (including Shibuya-ku, Shinjuku-ku, Minato-ku, Setagaya-ku, and Koto-ku), Yokohama, Kawasaki, Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya, Sapporo, Fukuoka, and 100+ additional municipalities across Japan. New areas are added weekly. Search your city in the app to check current coverage.

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 is currently available in English and Japanese (日本語, with optional furigana reading aids for learners). The app automatically uses your device language, but you can switch manually in Settings.

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

GomiMate automatically sends a push notification the evening before each collection day. 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 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.

GomiMate | Japan Garbage Collection Calendar & Trash Day App

This Privacy Policy explains how GomiMate (“we”, “our”, “us”) collects, uses, and protects your personal information when you use the GomiMate mobile app or website. It complies with the Japanese Act on the Protection of Personal Information (個人情報保護法, APPI) and, where applicable, the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

1. Information We Collect

Location data — When you set up your garbage collection schedule, you select your ward, city, or neighbourhood. We store this as a plain text location label on your device. We do not collect GPS coordinates or precise real-time location.

Push notification token — To send you collection-day reminders, your device generates an anonymous push token (provided by Apple APNs or Google FCM). This token is used solely for delivering your reminders and is not linked to your identity.

Account data (optional) — If you create a GomiMate Plus account, we collect your email address and a hashed password. Your name is optional.

Usage analytics — We collect anonymous, aggregated usage data (e.g., which features are used most, crash reports) to improve the app. This data cannot be used to identify you.

Device information — We collect your device type, operating system version, and app version for diagnostic purposes only.

We do not collect: your real name (unless you provide it), financial information, contacts, photos, or any data unrelated to the service.

2. How We Use Your Information

To deliver your garbage collection reminders on the correct day and time
To sync your ward’s official collection schedule
To manage your GomiMate Plus subscription (if applicable)
To respond to your support requests
To improve the app through anonymised usage analytics
To comply with legal obligations

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties. We do not use your data for advertising.

3. Legal Basis for Processing (GDPR)

For users in the European Economic Area, our legal bases are:

Contract — Processing necessary to provide the core service (schedule sync, reminder delivery)
Consent — Push notifications (you can withdraw consent at any time in your device Settings)
Legitimate interests — Anonymous crash reporting and analytics to maintain service quality
Legal obligation — Compliance with applicable laws

4. Third-Party Services

GomiMate uses the following trusted third-party services, each with their own privacy policies:

Apple APNs — iOS push notifications (apple.com/legal/privacy)
Google Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) — Android push notifications (policies.google.com/privacy)
Stripe — GomiMate Plus subscription payments. GomiMate does not store card numbers; Stripe handles all payment data (stripe.com/privacy)
Japanese municipal open data — Official garbage collection schedules are sourced from publicly available ward and city datasets. No personal data is shared with municipalities.

5. Data Retention

We retain your data only as long as necessary:

Schedule data — Stored locally on your device. Deleted when you uninstall the app or remove the location.
Account data — Retained while your account is active, plus 30 days after deletion to enable recovery.
Push tokens — Invalidated and removed when you unsubscribe from notifications or delete your account.
Analytics data — Anonymised; retained for up to 26 months for trend analysis.
Support correspondence — Retained for 2 years to handle follow-up issues.

6. Your Rights

Depending on your location, you have the following rights:

Access — Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
Correction — Request correction of inaccurate data
Deletion — Request deletion of your account and associated data
Portability — Receive your data in a machine-readable format (GDPR)
Withdraw consent — Disable push notifications at any time in your device Settings → Notifications
Object — Object to processing based on legitimate interests

To exercise any right, email privacy@gomimate.com. We will respond within 30 days.

Under the Japanese APPI, you may also contact the Personal Information Protection Commission of Japan.

7. Children's Privacy

GomiMate is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us at privacy@gomimate.com and we will delete it promptly.

8. Data Security

We protect your data using:

TLS encryption for all data in transit
AES-256 encryption for data at rest
Hashed and salted passwords (bcrypt)
Access controls: only staff who need data to perform their job can access it
Regular security audits

No system is 100% secure. In the unlikely event of a data breach affecting your rights, we will notify you within 72 hours as required by GDPR and as soon as practicable under APPI.

9. International Data Transfers

GomiMate primarily stores and processes data in Japan. If data is transferred outside Japan (e.g., to Apple or Google servers for push notifications), we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, including Standard Contractual Clauses where required under GDPR.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes via in-app notification or email (if you have an account). The “Last updated” date at the top of this page reflects the most recent revision. Continued use of the app after changes constitutes acceptance.

11. Contact Us

For privacy-related questions or to exercise your rights:

Email: privacy@gomimate.com
Response time: Within 30 days
Available in: English, Japanese (日本語)

Or use our Contact page to send us a message directly.