Japan Waste Sorting Guide
Exactly how to dispose of 24 common household items in Japan — from futons to air conditioners, bicycles to batteries. Includes preparation steps, local fees, Home Appliance Recycling Law details, and alternatives for every item.
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Futons are bulky waste (粗大ごみ) in Japan and require advance booking — you cannot leave them at a regu…
Before you dispose of a bicycle in Japan, you MUST cancel its anti-theft registration (防犯登録の抹消) at t…
Air conditioners in Japan are regulated under the Home Appliance Recycling Law (家電リサイクル法) — they can…
Televisions in Japan are regulated under the Home Appliance Recycling Law (家電リサイクル法) — they cannot b…
Refrigerators and freezers in Japan cannot be put out as regular garbage or bulky waste — they are r…
Washing machines and tumble dryers cannot be put out as bulky waste in Japan — they are covered by t…
Mattresses are bulky waste (粗大ごみ) in Japan and must be booked in advance — you cannot leave them at …
Sofas are bulky waste (粗大ごみ) in Japan and require advance booking. Fees are typically ¥1,500–¥5,000 …
Computers and laptops in Japan are NOT covered by the Home Appliance Recycling Law — instead, they f…
Smartphones in Japan can be dropped off at any carrier store (Docomo, SoftBank, au, Rakuten Mobile) …
Microwaves fall into non-burnable waste (不燃ごみ) or bulky waste (粗大ごみ) depending on size — NOT the Hom…
Never pour liquid paint down the drain — it is both illegal and environmentally harmful. In Japan, p…
Battery disposal in Japan depends on battery type: (1) Standard dry-cell batteries (アルカリ乾電池, single-…
Fluorescent bulbs and tubes (蛍光灯) contain mercury and must follow your ward's hazardous-waste collec…
Cardboard (段ボール) is recyclable paper (古紙) in Japan — flatten it completely, tie into a bundle with s…
PET bottles (ペットボトル, marked with ① PET) are recyclable in Japan. The rules for caps and labels vary …
Plastic packaging in Japan usually means containers and wrapping that held a product: food trays, sn…
Styrofoam is city-dependent in Japan. Clean food trays and packaging foam may be plastic packaging r…
Aluminum foil is not the same as aluminum cans. In Japan, dirty kitchen foil often goes to burnable …
CDs and DVDs are usually regular household waste in Japan, but the category varies. Some municipalit…
Clothing disposal rules in Japan differ by municipality. In wards that collect textiles as recyclabl…
Standard umbrellas (60–70 cm, folded) are non-burnable waste (不燃ごみ) in most Japanese wards — no book…
Pots, pans, and cookware (including Teflon/non-stick) are non-burnable waste (不燃ごみ) in Japan — no sp…
Books and magazines are recyclable paper (古紙) in Japan. Bundle them with string (not tape), remove a…
Home Appliance Recycling Law (家電リサイクル法)
These 4 appliances cannot go in regular garbage or bulky waste — they must be returned to the retailer or manufacturer with a recycling fee.
Bulky Waste (粗大ごみ) — Booking Required
Items too large for regular bags. Book online or by phone through your ward. Fees typically ¥400–¥5,000 per item.
Hazardous Waste (有害ごみ)
These items contain toxic, flammable, or reactive materials and require special handling. Never mix with regular garbage.