Japan Garbage Disposal Rules 2026 – How to Sort Trash Correctly

Garbage sorting in Japan is strictly required — wrong sorting means your trash gets refused! Here's everything you need to know for 2026.

Basic Garbage Categories

TypeJapaneseExamples 🔥 Burnable燃えるゴミFood, paper, fabric, leather ♻️ Recyclable資源ゴミPlastic bottles, cardboard, cans 🚫 Non-burnable燃えないゴミSmall metal, ceramics, glass 📦 Large items粗大ゴミFurniture, bicycles

Key Rules

• 🕖 Put trash out on the morning of collection day, not the night before
• 🧹 Rinse recyclable bottles and containers before disposing
• 🎌 Use the correct/designated bags if your ward requires them

Large Item Disposal (Sodai Gomi)

• Book pickup online or by phone at your ward office
• Buy the sticker (Sodai Gomi Shil) at Konbini (¥200–2,000)
• Attach sticker and leave item at pickup point on scheduled day