Proper Disposal of Oversized Garbage

In Japan, there is a special procedure for disposing of large or oversized garbage (sodai gomi). You cannot throw oversized garbage together with regular garbage, and doing so can cause problems with your landlord or neighborhood.

In this article, we explain all about the proper disposal of oversized garbage.

Definition of Oversized Garbage

Not all large items that don’t fit in municipal garbage bags can be disposed as oversized garbage. The exact definition of oversized garbage depends on the specific municipality you live in. Most municipalities define oversized garbage as items in which the longest side is 30 cm or more. However, some municipalities define it as items whose longest side is 50 cm or more, or items that weigh 100 kilograms or more.

If you don’t dispose of oversized garbage according to the specific rules set by your municipality, it will not be collected and may be left behind in the garbage collection point. This may cause trouble with your neighbors or landlord. So it is important to check and understand the specific rules for the municipality you live in.

Common Issues with Oversized Garbage

Some common issues that occur with oversized garbage include the following:

・ Putting oversized garbage out together with regular garbage

・ Dumping oversized garbage illegally

・ Leaving uncollected oversized garbage in the garbage collection point

In order to avoid these issues, you should check and understand the disposal rules for oversized garbage in your municipality.

What You Can and Cannot Dispose as Oversized Garbage

There are items that you can and cannot dispose as oversized garbage. Items that cannot be disposed as oversized garbage will not be collected even if you follow the procedure for oversized garbage disposal.