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SeasonedVet · Joined: 28 Aug 2006 Posts: 236 Location: Japan

I have never had a run in such as the ones described here (and I don't want one either) I think that along with the stories that we have been reading here that there should be a little more information so that people who are unfamiliar with the situation can get some balance.

I also was not too familiar with the gomi situations as described here, and I have read about them a few times on this board.
One thing to note is that the rules differ from place to place. I live in a big city and in one part of the city where I have lived you put the garbage out anytime anway you like. No separating. I lived in another part of the same city where there was separating and times to put out the garbage (BUT no garbage police or watchpersons)

In more remote areas where people have More free time and are More community oriented you might find garbage police but along with the Bad points that we read, those community persons (according to the Japanese people I have questioned) also do alot of good in the community.

And it is noteworthy that foreigners are not the only targets of the garbage police and other kinds of community policing.
gaijinalways wrote:

Apsara · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan

We got a letter from our landlord this week (it went to everyone in the building) that someone had put a pair of sandals (unburnable) out with some shoeboxes on burnable garbage day- shock horror! (it wasn't me by the way).

The letter expressed extreme disappointment that someone would contravene the rules like this and pointed out that the penalty for this kind of misbehaviour could be eviction, as stated in the terms of our lease. Talk about overreacting, but at least I don't get an old lady returning my garbage to my genkan. Rolling Eyes

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

alexcase · Joined: 26 Jul 2007 Posts: 215 Location: Seoul

It's all about control guys! By stopping you putting out your unburnable rubbish anytime but Saturday morning they can stop you staying out Fri night, stop you going away for a week, keep your permanently on edge, control your mind- just like a good old Japanese village community.

Eva Pilot · Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2007 1:35 am Post subject:

I have never had a problem with it. I put my rubbish out at various times, never been stopped or had it returned.

Does anyone else have to write their names on their garbage bags? The guy I replaced used to get complaints from the landlady because he didn't label his garbage bags.

scorchio · Joined: 14 Jun 2006 Posts: 36 Location: Sydney

madeira · Joined: 13 Jun 2004 Posts: 182 Location: Oppama

Old shoes and clothing are picked up every month or so in our area, and not in the usual garbage place. There are special days to recycle magazines, papers and books, too.

In Yokosuka, anyhow.

IF garbage rules are getting you down, renting a skip isn't that expensive. I paid 20,000 yen for one when I last moved. (We had just finished renovating, so we had a bunch of crap... including a huge old metal shed, bikes, paint containers.. dead radiators..) All gone.

alexcase · Joined: 26 Jul 2007 Posts: 215 Location: Seoul

Apart from the recycling thing, the best thing I can say about the different rubbish days is that it made me understand for the first time the scene in a Haruki Murakami novel where he goes off to secretly throw his rubbish away in a konbini bin before he leaves on a big case (anyone remember which book?)

I end up washing all my plastic so it doesn't smell in the week before it is collected. That can't be green can it- washing rubbish with all that water and detergent?

Apsara · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan

scorchio, sandals would be "unburnable garbage" because they probably have synthetics in them that would release harmful gases into the air if burned. Where I live burnable garbage is collected twice a week, unburnable once, and recyclables once (not including PET bottles which I take to the conbini).

Eva Pilot, we don't have to name our gomi- no doubt that's so they can easily find any miscreants who are not separating their garbage properly in your area.

alexcase- apart from natto containers, I don't find the plastic garbage gets smelly. The burnable, yes. Food scraps from Friday are not smelling good come Tuesday, the next burnable garbage day, especially in summer. We have two balconies luckily, so one of them is designated for gomi- that way the apartment doesn't get stunk out.