FAQ
Questions from visitors from outside the town
Collection
What do people do if they are
unable to bring their garbage?
unable to bring their garbage?
Households that are unable to bring garbage by themselves because they are unable to drive, for example, may use the transport assistance scheme. A free-of-charge collection for each house is made once every odd-numbered month for households registered in the transport assistance scheme. (There is a charge levied for oversized garbage)
Does the transport assistance
scheme suffice at just one pick up
per two months?
scheme suffice at just one pick up
per two months?
The users are mainly elderly, with many households not having much garbage. We asked a number of times, and many people say that once per two months is sufficient.
Is there an increase in
the number of users of
the transport assistance scheme?
the number of users of
the transport assistance scheme?
There are new applications, but the trend is downward with some people moving into nursing facilities or passing away. There are currently about 50 families using the scheme (March 2020).
How often do local
residents dispose their garbage?
residents dispose their garbage?
It varies by household. Some people come every day, others come a couple of times a year. According to survey results, the most common frequency is every 7 to 14 days.
Is there a popular day or time for
local residents to visit the Gomi Station
(garbage collection center)?
local residents to visit the Gomi Station
(garbage collection center)?
Around noon on Sundays appears to be popular. It depends more on the weather than on the day of the week and the time of day.
How far is the person farthest from
the Gomi Station?
the Gomi Station?
The farthest village is about 12 km (about 20 minutes by car).
About Sorting
Why are you sorting so much?
In Japan, about 80% of household waste is incinerated. The only resources that can be recovered after incineration are metals and the remaining cannot be reused. Resources must be removed before incineration. In addition, resources can be sold at high prices by separating them into different categories depending on their material. Items that are expensive to process can also be kept cheap.
How many categories do you
sort garbage into at home?
sort garbage into at home?
It varies depending on the household, but the most frequent appears to be 5 to 10 categories. Some households separate it into more than 20 categories. On the contrary, the number of households that do not do much sorting is not zero.
What items cannot be recycled?
Typical examples are disposable sanitary products such as used tissues, masks and rubber gloves, leather products, rubber products, PVC products, cigarette butts, drying agents, used disposable diapers, pet sheets, disposable heating pads, and shells.
Are there enough waste and
resource disposal companies to match
the number of categories of separation?
resource disposal companies to match
the number of categories of separation?
The processors are decided by bidding every year. Generally, the decision is made for each material such as metal and paper; there are roughly around 10 companies.
Was there any opposition from
the residents when the decision
was made to do sorting?
the residents when the decision
was made to do sorting?
Some opposed the decision; however, as it was a time when dioxins were a serious problem, residents promoted transitioning away from incinerators for the sake of their children. As a result, there was not much opposition. In Kamikatsu-cho, we believe that administrative bodies and residents had previously established activities to collaboratively solve local issues.
Isn't it difficult for the elderly
to separate garbage?
to separate garbage?
We have heard people say that earlier they were able to do it, but now as they have grown older, they are no longer able to manage. Resident staff present at the Gomi Station provides support to individuals unable to sort garbage very well.
Questions from residents
I have recently moved here and I do not have a
good understanding of the sorting process.
You will receive a sorting guidebook from Kamikatsu-cho Town Hall. Information can also be viewed on the internet.
▶︎Kamikatsu-cho Resource Sorting Guidebook
If you don’t know what to do about sorting, you can go to the Gomi Station and ask directly. It is also possible for Kamikatsu-cho Zero Waste advocates to visit households for consultation. Please contact the Planning and Environmental Protection Division at the Town Hall.
▶︎Kamikatsu-cho Resource Sorting Guidebook
If you don’t know what to do about sorting, you can go to the Gomi Station and ask directly. It is also possible for Kamikatsu-cho Zero Waste advocates to visit households for consultation. Please contact the Planning and Environmental Protection Division at the Town Hall.
How much should I wash containers and
packaging that contained food?
packaging that contained food?
Rinse lightly with cold or hot water. If you rinse with hot water and the stains do not come off, you do not need to wash with detergent. Please dispose of these items as ⑦-2 Other plastics instead of ⑦-1 Plastic containers and packaging, or ⑪-1 Items that must be burned. Example: Bags of oily processed foods in retort packaging, etc.
Be sure to dry the items to be put in
⑦-1 Plastic Containers and
Packaging after washing them.
If it is a light stain,
it will suffice to wipe lightly without washing it.
⑦-1 Plastic Containers and
Packaging after washing them.
If it is a light stain,
it will suffice to wipe lightly without washing it.
⑦-1 Plastic containers and packaging are only shipped twice a year. If wet items are mixed in, mold may grow or insects may emerge during storage. In that case, the inspection results from the Japan Containers and Packaging Recycling Association will be lower, and the following year’s processing costs will increase. Kamikatsu-cho has maintained the highest rating so far. Thank you for your ongoing cooperation.
Various materials are used in an item and
I don't know how to classify it.
I don't know how to classify it.
If you don’t know how to classify it, feel free to ask the staff at the Gomi Station. If an item can be easily disassembled, disassemble and separate it by material. If an item cannot be disassembled, sort it according to the main material used.
Plastic toys that run on batteries contain metals such as electronic circuit boards, so please put in ③-5 Miscellaneous Metals.
Metal and paper are resources that can be sold.
Let’s collect as much as possible!
Metal and paper are resources that can be sold.
Let’s collect as much as possible!
House-moving and
estate sales generate large amounts of garbage,
making it very difficult to sort and transport.
estate sales generate large amounts of garbage,
making it very difficult to sort and transport.
Please consult with the Planning and
Environmental Protection Division at the Town Hall.
Environmental Protection Division at the Town Hall.