Which Bin?

Garbage bins - each for different items

Throwing garbage away in Japan is not as simple as just lifting the lid on a garage can and throwing it away. Japan has complex method of handling garbage due to many people living in such a small area. The house I stayed in close to Tokyo had a large book 72 pages in length explaining how to sort the garbage as well as the packaging and pick up days.

Garbage in Japan is divided into three categories – combustible garbage (moeru gomi), non-combustible garbage (moenai gomi) and recyclable garbage (shigen gomen). Approximately 80% of Japan's garbage is incinerated. These categories are further broken down into sub-categories. The definition of the different categories can change from region to region as well as the collection days.

Sorting garbage is not easy, it is no wonder there is a guide – lipstick itself can go in the combustible pile but the container and tube once it is empty needs to go in the plastic or small metal bin. If a metal items is smaller, it can go in the small metals but if it is larger they are classified a bulky refuse. Plastics must to be washed and cleaned prior to disposal. If you are throwing away one sock, it would go in the burnable bin but if there are two socks, matching, with no holes and they are clean, they can go in the used cloth bag.

Due to the complex nature of handling garbage in Japan, you do not see many public garbage cans available on the street or in public places. Most garbage is carried and disposed of at home.