Burnable Garbage In Japan and More: How To Sort Your Trash

Japan achieves a 77% recycling rate compared to the global average of 20%. This success depends on everyone following trash sorting rules established by their town or city.

While every Japanese city and town has specific trash rules, we created this guide to help you understand the general guidelines that most Japanese towns and cities follow.

From burnable garbage in Japan to plastics and more, we have your garbage disposal rules.

Trash sorting in Japan

When it comes to sorting trash in Japan, you need to know three things:

1. Collection day

Trash in Japan is collected on specific days of the week.

Burnable garbage is generally collected twice a week. In contrast, nonburnable garbage and recyclables are collected less frequently, usually once or twice a month.

The schedule depends on your building, where you live, and the area’s designated collection day.

Check your building’s collection rules for where and when to place your trash. 

2. Sorting

Sorting trash in Japan involves separating items into main 3 categories: 

• Burnable (可燃ごみ, kanengomi)

• Non-burnable (不燃ごみ, funengomi)

• Recyclables (資源ごみ, shigengomi)

Each type of trash needs to be in a specific color or labeled bag sold at convenience stores or supermarkets. Missorting your trash can result in fines or it not being collected. 

Depending on the item, you will need to clean the inside by rinsing it with water and drying it. Mainly to control mold and smells.

Additionally, all your items should fit inside their designated bags. If items are too big, they should be collected as “oversized” garbage.

Ask yourself these questions in order:

3. Regional differences

There are regional trash sorting differences in:

• How trash is sorted

• How trash is collected

• How trash is handled

For example, I lived in Tokyo before and now in Fukuoka. In my Tokyo apartment, my trash needed to be under a specific netting every week. While in Fukuoka, my building has a 24-hour trash area. 

Here is a comparison chart showing regional trash sorting differences in Japan's major cities:

💡 Pro Tip: Always check with your building manager or local city hall for your specific area's rules, as these can vary even within the same city.

How to separate garbage in Japan

Here is a general guide to sorting your trash in Japan. 

Burnable garbage in Japan

Nerima, Tokyo burnable garbage guide

Burnable garbage varies throughout Japan; generally, it includes:

• Kitchen waste: leftovers, tea leaves, egg and sea shells

• Paper: used paper, cartons, wrapping paper

• Leather items: Footwear, bags, belts, etc.

• Natural items: flowers, wood scrap, branches

However, burnable garbage can also include small plastics, depending on where you live. For example, my Fukuoka apartment allows plastics in the burnable waste, compared to Tokyo, where it’s much stricter. 

You can search for your basic trash guide in Japan by searching:

• [Local municipalities] garbage disposal

• [City or town in Japanese]ごみ出しルール

Non-burnable garbage in Japan

Nagahama’s City Non-burnable Garbage Guide

Nonburnable garbage in Japan can not be incinerated normally. It includes: 

• Metals: pots, knives, spoons, umbrellas, and steel cans

• Glass and ceramics: cups, ashtrays, cosmetic bottles, broken items, mirrors, bowls, pots, 

• Small electrical appliances: kettles, toaster, mixer, coffee 

For broken items, such as broken bottles or glass, you should wrap them in paper before placing them inside your nonburnable bag. Then label the outside the bad with “Dangerous”  or “きけん.”

Additionally, aerosol spray cans and gas cartridges should be placed in a separate transparent bag next to your nonburnable garbage at your garbage collection site.

Plastics in Japan

Yamaguchi’s PET bottle guide

Mostly, all plastic bottles here are PET bottles and have their own separate sorting bag. These bottles must be rinsed, and the pet bottle caps and labels must be disposed of separately. 

Depending on where you live, other recyclable garbage, such as labels, bags, and food containers, can be placed in separate plastic bags or burnable trash bags.

Paper trash in Japan

Paper can be recycled in Japan, and it includes:

• packaging and bags

• pamphlets

• printed paper

• envelopes

• newspaper and magazine

• cardboard

• paper cartons

Stack and tie these items and place them in their designated area.

Any paper items that are dirty, have a strong smell, or have silver wrapping should be placed in a burnable container.

Additionally, depending on your building and local garbage disposal rules, these paper items may be placed in burnable trash bags, regardless of how clean they are.

Oversized garage in Japan

Common sodai gomi in Minato, Tokyo , including microwaves, vacuums, and chairs

Oversized garbage is called 粗大ごみ or sodai gomi in Japanese which includes:

• Furniture

• Appliances

• Mattresses

• Bicycle

• Suitcases

For these items, you need to schedule a pickup with your local government or take the time to visit a designated disposal center.

There will be a fee for this pickup, though it’s usually less than 500 yen per item. Once you have an item scheduled, you will pay this fee at a convenience store or municipal office, where you will receive the sodai gomi ticket to attach to your item before it is collected.  

For more information about scheduling pickups and fees, look up your local sodai gomi by searching: [市, 町, or 区] 粗大ごみ.

Costs and fees: what you need to budget

Trash bag costs (per 10-bag pack)

Sodai gomi (oversized trash) fees

Advanced trash sorting: tricky items guide

Essential Japanese vocabulary & phrases

Frequently asked questions

What is an example of burnable garbage?

Kitchen wastes such as food scraps and leftovers, paper, cartoons, leather items, and wood scraps are examples of burnable garbage in Japan.

What is nonburnable garbage in Japanese?

In Japanese, nonburnable garbage is 不燃ごみ or 燃えないごみ. It includes metal kitchen items, glass and ceramics, and small electrical appliances that fit in nonburnable garbage bags. 

What is different about garbage in Japan?

In Japan, household garbage can be separated into 3 categories: burnable, non-burnable, and recyclable.

In closing

Knowing about burnable garbage in Japan and other items to sort out might seem overwhelming at first, but with consistent practice and the guidance in this article, you'll find yourself confidently navigating the rules within just a few weeks.