In Yokohama City, in line with city rules, there are regular collections of burnable garbage, non burnable garbage, dry-cell batteries, spray cans, cans/bottles/PET bottles, small metal items, and plastic containers and packaging.

Burnable and non-burnable garbage etc is collected twice a week, while cans/bottles/PET bottles, and plastic containers and packaging etc. are collected once a week.

Used paper and cloth is picked up by 'Recyclables Group Collections' organized  independently by local residents. Please abide by the rules of your local community.

If you are putting out oversized garbage, advance application is required

If you are unable to enquire in Japanese about how to put your garbage out, please consult Yokohama Foreign Residents Information Center. The telephone number is 045-222-1209. Calls will be dealt with in Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Nepalese, Indonesian, Tagalog, Thai, Portuguese, and Spanish.

A leaflet explaining how to separate garbage is available in 9 languages on the Yokohama City website. It is called ‘How to Put Out Your Garbage and Recyclables’. The leaflet is also distributed at each ward's Resources & Waste Recycling Bureau office and at ward offices too.

There is also a smartphone app which makes searching for information on garbage separation easy. It's called the 'Yokohama City Garbage Separation App' and is available in English and Chinese. It can be installed for free through the App Store for iPhones and the Play Store for Androids.

From this July, the free distribution of shopping bags at retail stores nationwide is prohibited in principle. Please take this as an opportunity to start using an eco bag.