Disposing of Garbage

Tama Waste Collection Office
Environmental Protection Bureau
Tel: 933-4111

In Kawasaki City, there are three categories of garbage for disposal purposes: ordinary garbage, recyclable garbage, and oversized garbage/small metal items. Observe the rules and put out your garbage on the appropriate days.
Ask a neighbor where you should put out your garbage.
Note that some types of garbage cannot be collected.
For details, contact the Tama Waste Collection Office of the Environmental Collection Bureau.

The information is also available in the above languages on the following site.
How to Separate and Dispose of Trash in Kawasaki (Japanese,English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, Portuguese, and Tagalog)

Ordinary Garbage

Ordinary garbage is collected three times a week on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday (Note that a different schedule applies for the New Year break).

Observe the following rules in disposing of ordinary garbage.

Place your garbage in either a plastic container with a lid, or in transparent/semi-transparent bags, and put it in the appropriate spot by 8:00 a.m.
Do not put out garbage on days when it is not collected, at night, or after collection hours.
Wrap breakable items such as glass, ceramic shards, light bulbs, etc., in thick paper, and label them “Kiken.”
Bend the tips of skewers or similarly sharp objects
Cut wooden planks or branches to a size of 50 centimeters or smaller and tie them up with rope.
Do not place flammable or explosive materials in the garbage. These items cannot be collected. Ask the place in which these items are bought how to dispose.
Dispose of newspapers and other paper through a recycling collection service in your area. Ask a neighbor where and when to dispose of these.

Recyclable Garbage

Recyclable items are collected once a week. Dispose of empty bottles and cans at this time.
The day of the week for recyclable items may differ depending on where you live.
Ask a neighbor where you should place recyclable garbage.

Observe the following:

Place the garbage outside by 8:00 a.m. on the appropriate day.
Recyclable garbage is not collected if the designated day is holiday. Wait until the appropriate day the following week.
Do not dispose of ordinary garbage on recyclable garbage day.

The following recyclable items are collected.

Empty cans
Rinse the inside of the cans prior to disposal. Be sure to use up all of the product in spray cans or gas cartridges, and puncture the cans outdoors without fire.
PET bottles
Remove caps and labels, rinse the bottle, and crush.
Do not place any garbage inside the bottles.
PET bottles are used for drinks, liquor, soy sauce and so on ,and we can recognize them recognized by the symbol to the right.
Dispose of bottles that do not have the PET symbol together with ordinary garbage.
Place PET bottles together with empty cans in transparent or semi-transparent bags.
Dispose of caps and labels with ordinary garbage.
Glass bottles
Remove the top, rinse with water, and place in the spot designated for empty bottles.
Dead batteries
Dispose of ordinary batteries in transparent bags.
Return button-shaped batteries and nickel-cadmium batteries to the store where you bought them. (There should be a box for dead batteries at the store).

Oversized Garbage

Oversized garbage, such as large items that are no longer needed, electric products that cannot be repaired, etc., are collected twice monthly on different days than ordinary garbage. Collection days depend on where you live.

Contact the Bulky garbage collection Center by telephone or via the Internet three days in advance of the day of collection (not including Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, or the day of collection).

Bulky garbage collection Center
Tel: 930-5300
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00-16:30.
Net Center Kawasaki (Japanese only, 24 hours a day)

There is a charge (200yen, 500yen, or 1000yen, depending on the size) for disposal of each piece of oversized garbage.
A bulky garbage collection tickt can be purchased from the city government.

After you contact, purchase the ticket and place the accompanying sticker on the item.
Tickets can be purchased at post offices, convenience stores, or the Tama Waste Collection Office. Place the item in the designated spot on the appropriate day before 8:00 a.m.
Ask where oversized garbage should be placed when you contact the Bulky garbage collection Center.

Small Metal Items

Metal items measuring less than 30 centimeters are disposed of on the same day as oversized garbage.
There is no charge.
Put the items in the same place as empty cans or PET bottles on the appropriate day before 8:00 a.m.
Items such as umbrellas or wire hangers longer than 30 centimeters are also treated as small metal items.

Observe the following rules for small metal items:

Do not mix small metal items with ordinary garbage or recyclable garbage.
Place small items such as nails or clips in transparent bags.
Wrap dangerous items such as scissors or knives in thick paper and label them “Kiken.”
Tie up items such as umbrellas and wire hangers.