Is there pollution in Japan? How do the Japanese get rid of their trash? Is Japan a clean and green country? In this guide, we will talk about everything related to waste separation, garbage collection, and recycling in Japan, as well as some curiosities about Japanese cleanliness.
Talking about waste separation, collection, and recycling in Japan is quite a complex subject. There are countless rules related to this issue, and each city and province has its own rules for waste separation and collection. Despite each location having different rules, there is a standard in this matter.
In Japan, each person is responsible for separating their trash and disposing of it in the correct place. There is a culture of cleanliness that keeps Japan always clean. Before we talk about collection, let’s discuss this culture of cleanliness.
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Reasons That Make Japan Clean and Green
Japan is a small island with over 127 million inhabitants. There are thousands of factories and industries, yet the country is filled with green fields and is ecologically clean. Meanwhile, several countries with much more space than Japan have cities that are completely polluted and have almost no greenery.
Of course, we all face environmental problems; Japan has also faced issues with waste recycling and radiation from power plants. However, Japan is still a quite clean and green country. It keeps most of its cities and mountains clean, full of trees and greenery.
The main factor that keeps Japan consistently clean is the culture of Cleanliness. This culture is why foreign countries broadcast on television when the Japanese perform a simple act of cleaning, which should be everyone’s obligation.
The culture of graffiti on walls is also rare in Japan, and when they do it, it looks more like a work of art than vandalism. The culture of keeping everything orderly and clean comes from childhood, where children are responsible for cleaning their own school.
They not only clean the school but also plant trees and vegetation, take care of animals, and pick up trash in the neighborhood. The seriousness about cleanliness makes the population aware of their actions and responsibilities, making them think twice before making a mess.
Incentives for Collection in Japan
Organization is necessary when it comes to cleaning the environment. The Japanese recycle most of their waste, and for this to happen, they need to separate it into various types and dispose of it on the correct days.
Organization is the key to success
There are many rules about how to package waste and the collection for recycling that vary according to the municipality. Those who try to dirty or disobey the rules can end up paying dearly.
The plastic bags, and even the labels used for recycling large waste, have a cost. Those who disobey the rules of separation, collection, and recycling get stuck paying high fines that can reach up to 250 thousand reais.
Examples of a Clean Japan
It is common to walk down the street and see a group of people cleaning the neighborhood, as adults are invited to participate in the neighborhood cleaning that happens regularly. Some even participate in the cleaning dressed up before going to work.
Although it is not mandatory, many feel obliged to help keep their neighborhood clean. And it doesn’t just stop at collecting trash and sweeping the streets; there are activities like pruning plants, cutting weeds and grass, and others.
While in many countries there is a custom of hiring maids to take care of cleaning, most Japanese prefer to keep their area and home clean on their own.
They enjoy cleaning and feel satisfied maintaining a clean environment, which results in positive habits in their lives. This culture of keeping things clean helps not only the individual but also those around them. We can notice how clean public transportation is, with no gum stuck to the seats or trash thrown on the floor.
Japan is continuously promoting clean technology and other recycling services to keep its country clean. Being aware of the environment is crucial for the Japanese people.
They really emphasize community over the individual. If one person makes a mess in the neighborhood, it is normal for several people to help clean up. They don’t think: I didn’t make the mess, so who cares.
The streets, cities, and homes in Japan are tidy and comfortable to live in. Japan’s cleanliness is unmatched and supported by different communities that wish to see the world clean. Of course, this is a constant struggle and requires the collaboration of the entire population to work.
How Does Waste Separation Work in Japan?
In most cities, waste must be taken to designated collection points on the specified day by 8:30 AM. The day for throwing out the trash can even vary by neighborhood.
To make it easier, the city or neighborhood is responsible for helping and providing a manual with all the details on how the waste should be disposed of. You can find this information online by browsing the city hall’s website.
Each location has its own unique transparent or semi-transparent plastic bags. Waste is divided into countless categories, and sometimes it is necessary to separate waste from waste. Even bottle caps need to be separated for recycling.
Some items must be divided into plastic, paper, and similar materials. This way, each material goes to the correct place.
Types of Waste in Japan
We know that waste is categorized and separated into many types. Each type of waste has its designated day.
Burnable Waste – Includes food scraps, wood, non-recyclable leather material, paper, kitchen waste, etc. Collection usually occurs twice a week.
Plastic Waste – PVC film, rice bags, cookie bags, bread bags, and others, “obento” trays, egg cartons, polyethylene, etc. Collection usually occurs once a week.
Breakable Waste – Light bulbs (incandescent), batteries that do not contain mercury, toys, watches, radios, digital thermometers, electric toasters, thermos bottles, hair dryers, disposable heat packs (kairo), rubber boots, stuffed animals, mirrors, metallic materials that do not fit in the glass and can collection box, electrical products that are not considered bulky waste, etc. Collection usually occurs once a month.
Large Waste – Specific items: microwaves, carpets, mattresses, blankets, beds, tables, chairs, bicycles, general furniture, etc. Collection is done individually and incurs a fee.
There are other types of waste; sometimes it is necessary to separate cans, glass, etc. As I mentioned, each city hall usually has its own way of separating, and they provide a booklet explaining this separation.
Did You Know? In Japan, trash cans or bins are quite rare, so you need to carry the trash from your snack, which is usually well-packaged, to the nearest convenience store or even your home.
Recycling in Japan
Recycling in Japan is called Risaikuru [リサイクル] based on the Japanese Law on Packaging and Container Recycling. Plastics, paper, PET bottles, aluminum, and glass are recycled.
Some believe that all waste in Japan is recycled, but this is a mistake. Only about 20% of Japanese waste is fully recycled. There are other countries that recycle much more than Japan, such as the Netherlands (50%) and the United Kingdom (30%). [Inaccurate data].
In addition to apartments and houses, stores separate their waste and dispose of it in specific bins. Some recycling companies transform waste into pavements or remake the recycled objects like bottles.
PET bottles are dissolved and filtered at high temperatures, producing a pure resin that can be turned into new PET bottles. It can also become fibers used even in the manufacture of clothes and bags.
Waste can also be used to create artificial islands like the airports in Nagoya and Kansai. An incentive for recycling in Japan is the Mottainai culture, which means something like zero waste.
In Japan, you can find the following names on containers:
What Does Japan Do with Non-Recyclable Waste?
Now that you know that only 20% of Japan’s waste is recyclable, what happens to the rest? It is probably burned, discarded, or sold to other countries. A large portion of this waste is burned in a type of fluidized bed.
Your waste will be suspended in a hot, bubbling bed of ashes and other particles while jets of air blow over it. The “rapid mixing of gases and solids promotes quick heat transfer and chemical reactions within the bed.”
This thermal treatment of urban solid waste has advantages over other forms of incineration. It is cheaper, takes up less space, and produces fewer nitrogen oxides and less sulfur dioxide. In other words, it is a burning process that pollutes the environment less.
The waste can also be used as part of an energy system, where the heat from burning waste generates energy. It may seem that burning is damaging the environment, but in fact, this method is less polluting than landfills.
An interesting example is the incinerator located in Mashima Osaka, which burns more than 900 tons of waste per day, also generating cheap electricity, but its design is often mistaken for an amusement park by tourists.
Waste Disposal in Japan
Aside from recycling, another quite questionable aspect is waste disposal in Japan. On a positive note, waste disposal is a lucrative business, where foreign countries buy Japan’s waste or its raw materials.
The negative side is that Japan has been involved in some scandals regarding waste disposal in the sea, land, and other countries without authorization. In many cases, there are companies that promise to recycle, burn, or dispose of the waste, but simply dump it somewhere. Unfortunately, this happens in any country, even in countries like Brazil.
Scandals also happen with recycling. In 2008, five paper companies in Japan were accused of deceiving customers by claiming that the paper was 50% recycled, when in fact it contained only 5 to 10% recycled material.
Videos about Recycling in Japan
This is a very delicate subject, and I think some videos will explain it much better. Below, we will leave videos from Japan Our Daily Life and others explaining in detail the separation, collection, and recycling in Japan.
I hope this guide has helped you learn a bit about garbage collection and recycling in Japan. And you? What do you think about waste separation? Share your opinion in the comments and share with your friends.
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