Recycling is a multistep process that many people in Japan closely follow.
When I moved to Japan and learned I’d have to sort all my trash into nine categories before properly disposing of it, I was overwhelmed.
Some of these categories include combustibles, plastic water bottles, plastic containers, aluminum, cardboard, and newspapers.
This system was a huge change coming from the US, where recycling mostly includes separating cans and plastic bottles from the rest of my garbage.
Before recycling a plastic water bottle in Japan, I wash it first, rinse the inside, recycle the cap separately, and tear off the logo before placing the bottle in a color-coded bag.
It might seem tedious, but it’s efficient — and people seem to follow the recycling rules here closely.
Interestingly, I haven’t found a lot of public trash cans in Japan. People tend to hold onto their trash and throw it away when they get home, where they can properly categorize it. Honestly, it’s refreshing not to see much litter on the streets here.
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