Bulky waste guide
How to throw away bulky waste in Japan
Bulky-waste rules differ between municipalities, but the basic process is almost the same everywhere. Here is every step from applying to collection, so you won’t get lost the first time.
* This is the general process shared by most Japanese municipalities. Check your municipality’s guidance for the details.
What is bulky waste?
Large furniture, bedding, appliances and other items that don’t fit in the designated garbage bags. Many municipalities use “longest side over about 30 cm” as the guideline, though some use 50 cm or other rules.
Common bulky waste
- Furniture such as sofas, chests, tables and chairs
- Bedding such as beds, mattresses and futons
- Bicycles, suitcases and carpets
- Appliances such as microwaves, fans and vacuums (not TVs, fridges, washers or air conditioners)
Tokaru estimates the size from your photo and tells you whether it’s bulky waste.
Step by step
- 1
Apply
Call the bulky-waste reception center or apply on your municipality’s website. Tell them the item, size, quantity and address, and you’ll be given the fee, collection date and a reception number.
Shows the reception center’s number and the official application page — call with one tap. - 2
Buy a fee sticker
Buy “bulky-waste fee stickers” for the quoted amount at a designated store such as a convenience store or supermarket. Some municipalities use online payment or payment slips instead.
Check your municipality’s fee before you apply. - 3
Attach the sticker
Write your reception number and name on the sticker and attach it where it’s easy to see.
- 4
Put it out on the day
Put the item at the designated spot (in front of your home, a collection point, etc.) by the set time — usually the morning of collection day. You usually don’t need to be there.
Guides you from preparing the sticker to collection day, in your language. - 5
It gets collected
Items without a sticker, or that differ from what you applied for, may not be collected.
Other ways to get rid of it
Drop it off yourself
Bring it to your municipality’s incineration plant or processing facility. It’s often cheaper and faster, but you may need to book.
Reuse it
If it still works, consider a second-hand shop, a flea-market app or a local giveaway board.
Store take-back when replacing
Furniture and electronics stores may take your old item when you buy a new one (sometimes for a fee).
What can’t go out as bulky waste
Most municipalities don’t collect the following as bulky waste. Each has its own disposal route.
Home Appliance Recycling Law
TV / Refrigerator / freezer / Washer / clothes dryer / Air conditioner
→Ask the store you bought it from (or are replacing it at) to take it back, or bring it to a designated collection site (recycling fee applies)
Resource Recycling Law
PC / monitor
→Manufacturer take-back (free with the PC Recycle mark), or small-appliance collection boxes
Hard-to-process items
Fire extinguishers, gas cylinders, motorcycle/car batteries, tires, pianos, fireproof safes, kerosene, paint, etc.
→Retailers or specialist collection services
Motorcycles and cars
→Dealers or specialist businesses (each has its own recycling system)
Good to know
Book early in moving season
March–April is peak season and collection can take several weeks. Apply as soon as your moving date is set.
Beware of unlicensed collectors
Some businesses advertise “free collection” and then demand high fees or dump items illegally. The national government and municipalities warn about this.
Smaller may mean regular trash
In some municipalities, items taken apart below the size limit can go out as regular trash. Check your municipality’s rules first.
Applications are mostly in Japanese
Reception centers and websites are mostly in Japanese. If phoning feels hard, apply online. Tokaru summarizes fees and how to apply in your language.
FAQ
How much does bulky waste cost?+
It depends on the municipality and item — typically from a few hundred to a few thousand yen per item. Check your municipality’s amount with Tokaru.
How long from applying to collection?+
It varies by municipality and season, but a few days to two weeks is typical. Moving season can take longer.
What if I miss collection day?+
In most cases you’ll need to apply again. Contact the reception center.
Where can I buy fee stickers?+
At stores designated by your municipality (convenience stores, supermarkets, etc.). Stickers differ by municipality, and another city’s stickers can’t be used.
Check your municipality’s rules now
Snap a photo to see if it’s bulky waste, the fee and where to apply.