Job Discussion Forums

[Sour Grape]

[gonzarelli]

[southofreality]

I hear ya, gonz.

I usually have to tell the clerk at MickeyD's not to put the paper bag filled with my order into a plastic bag. But, on positive note, a brand new girl who had never served me before, actually asked me if I needed the second bag.

[Inflames]

[Apsara]

There's a big movement in my ward to reduce plastic bags. In most supermarkets you are either charged 1- 5 yen for a plastic bag or you get a 2 yen discount for bringing your own. A piffling amount but it does seem to make people think. I also have no problem getting convenience store/ coffee shop staff not to put things in bags, as long as I'm quick enough with the "sono mama de ii desu".

Many of my Japanese friends totally agree with me on the packaging problem in Japan, but then most of my friends are alternative types who attend Earth Day celebrations...

Even though I sometimes put the garbage out the night before I seem to have avoided the gomi nazis my whole time in Japan, (9 years) probably because I have always lived in very urban areas. Our building has auto-lock as well so I can't imagine anyone returning our garbage to our door.

I've never considered it a hassle to separate the garbage, but then where I'm from (Auckland, NZ) we have had to do that for years- I didn't realise other countries weren't also doing that kind of thing.

[Dipso]

I live in a building where everyone is foreign. The gomi goes out when it's full and no one ever says a word.

[J.]

Around here it's always the Mother's job to take out the garbage, even when she has strapping teenagers sitting around. I would think that that has something to do with people making rules for narrow time periods for putting the garbage out. The only one available to do it is someone who has flexible time, probably someone working at home.

And are you sure it's always the cats? This week I surprised a large crow having a garbage breakfast.

[Apsara]

It's the crows where I live, they make way more mess than cats too. I often leave home quite early and almost always see one pulling garbage all over the place near our building. They are strong enough to move whole bags quite a distance.

[Inflames]

Where I live it's usually cats. Sometimes it's homeless people. If you go out around midnight, you can see them tearing through the bags.

[ndorfn]

I think most japanese are slack with recycling. loads of them don't give a toss about recycling cardboard and paper, just throwing it out with the other rubbish, same with polystyrene containers.

I reckon they should be stricter.

[gaijinalways]

There are some people who have nothing better to do and want to hassle others over garbage. My Japanese wife had a run in with one, old lady who later got too old and now can no longer go and 'protect' the neighbors. Our 'nutter' across the street complains, but he comnplains about people putting out garbage on the wrong days, something I am not crazy about either.

[VanKen]

[JimDunlop2]

[Brooks]

well Jim you live out in Tochigi, right? Sounds like they are behind the curve, up there.
I live in Kanagawa, and there are signs which state which days are for recycling and which ones are for garbage.

The city of Sagamihara has a website and information is posted in English about recycling, garbage, etc.

I assume cities of Tochigi has city websites but they may be in Japanese only.

[Yawarakaijin]

I think I may have lucked out. I'm in Sagamiono not to far from Brooks and I just go to town with my garbage. There is no information outside our gomi area and for 2 years I just put it out when I felt like it. Never been hassled. I did follow the rules regarding to big gomi and bought tickets and never had any old ladies come to my place.