Comparing Four Areas I Know Well (as of 2026)

June 15, 2026 June 20, 2026

Keiko

Here's a side-by-side look at the rules in four places that are personally significant to me.

Setagaya, Tokyo

Categories: burnable waste, non-burnable waste, recyclables, PET bottles, large/bulky waste
Burnable: food waste, cooking oil, clothing, rubber/leather, hygiene products, paper, plastics
Non-burnable: glass, ceramics, blades, spray cans, gas canisters, lighters
Recyclables: used paper, glass bottles, cans
Pickup deadline: by 8:00 AM
Disposal: burnable and non-burnable waste must go in clear or semi-transparent bags

Yokohama, Kanagawa

Categories: burnable waste, non-burnable waste, small metal items, spray cans, recyclables, large/bulky waste
Burnable: food waste, cooking oil, hygiene products, plastic products containing metal
Non-burnable: glass, fluorescent tubes, etc.
Recyclables: paper
Plastic recyclables: plastic packaging and plastic products
Pickup deadline: by 8:00 AM
Disposal: burnable and non-burnable waste must go in clear or semi-transparent bags

Kumano-cho, Aki District, Hiroshima

Categories: burnable waste, landfill waste, recyclables, large/bulky waste
Burnable: food waste, clothing, shoes, hygiene products, CDs/DVDs, disposable lighters, disposable heat packs
Landfill: glass, ceramics
Recyclables: newspaper, books/magazines, cardboard, milk cartons, used clothing, PET bottles, plastics, glass bottles, beverage cans, metal
Pickup deadline: by 8:30 AM
Disposal: burnable and non-burnable waste must go in clear or semi-transparent bags

Rankoshi-cho, Isoya District, Hokkaido

Categories: burnable waste, non-burnable waste, food waste, large/bulky waste, recyclables
Burnable: paper scraps, cooking oil, cloth, clothing, soiled paper, hygiene products
Non-burnable: metal, leather, rubber, glassware, ceramics, pet litter, gas canisters, spray cans
Food waste: collected separately
Recyclables: plastic packaging, milk cartons
Pickup deadline: by 8:30 AM
Disposal: burnable, non-burnable, and food waste must go in designated paid bags

Looking at these four areas side by side, it really drives home just how localized this system is. Even something as basic as "what bag do I use" or "is plastic burnable or recyclable" depends entirely on where you happen to be standing!