A Guide to Garbage Disposal When Renovating a House in Japan

When we first imagined renovating an old house in Japan, we pictured exposing ancient beams, fixing sliding doors, and maybe enjoying a slow morning coffee on the engawa. What we didn’t picture was the garbage.

And to be clear: this isn’t about everyday household trash you put out in front of your house on collection day. This is about renovation waste—the kind that Japan’s incineration-focused waste system requires you to sort, transport, and dispose of yourself at municipal waste centers.

We realized we couldn’t ignore this side of renovation the moment we got the keys to our countryside house. During an akiya clean-out, decades’ worth of belongings—furniture, dishes, clothes, broken appliances, old tools—often become your responsibility all at once. Clearing it isn’t just physically demanding; it can also be time-consuming, rule-heavy, and surprisingly expensive.

If you’re about to embark on your own akiya renovation, this guide breaks down what garbage hauling and disposal actually look like in Japan, how incineration and waste centers work, and why it helps to plan for garbage as its own renovation phase (because it is).

How Waste Centers Work in Japan

Japan’s waste system is famously strict—and incredibly organized—and that structure means renovation garbage doesn’t disappear into one big dumpster.

Instead of traditional sprawling dumps, Japan uses high-temperature incinerators that also serve as waste-to-energy facilities. These plants use advanced filtration systems, including carbon capture, to reduce environmental impact.

Waste centers may be called Environmental Center (環境センター), Clean Center (クリーンセンター), or Recycling Center (リサイクルセンター).

After sorting through the house, we had to separate everything into categories, including:

• Burnable garbage (可燃ごみ)
• Non-burnable garbage (不燃ごみ)
• Oversized items (粗大ごみ / sodai gomi)
• Electronics and appliances
• Metal items

Keep in mind that not all garbage disposal centers will accept all categories. Be sure to check online or visit in person for a breakdown of what they accept.

Below is an example of what is accepted (yellow) and what isn’t (in red) at Kyoto’s Miyazu City.

We learned the rule of organization the hard way on our first dump run. Because our load was a mix of household trash and construction debris, the facility couldn’t accept it. Fortunately, the staff provided a guide on sorting materials and a list of specialized disposal sites. After a quick trip home to reorganize, we were much better prepared, saving ourselves significant time and confusion on all future runs.

What is Burnable Garbage in Japan?

Burnable garbage (可燃ごみ, moeru gomi) consists of everyday household items that can be safely incinerated, from:

• Food Waste: Kitchen scraps and leftovers (must be drained of excess water).
• Paper Goods: Tissues, paper scraps, and dirty cardboard that cannot be recycled.
• Small Plastics: Plastic wrap, food containers, and bags (check if your city requires these in “Recyclable Plastics” instead).
• Rubber & Leather: Old shoes, bags, and belts (with metal removed)
• Sanitary Items: Diapers, pet waste, and feminine hygiene products.

What is Non-Burnable Garbage in Japan?

Non-burnable (不燃ごみ, moenai gomi) consists of items that cannot be incinerated or may release toxic fumes if burned. For example:

• Glass & Ceramics: Broken glasses, plates, light bulbs, and pottery.
• Metals: Aluminum foil, pots, pans, and cutlery.
• Small Electronics: Small appliances like hair dryers or clocks (larger items may require “Oversized Trash” pickup).
• Hazardous Items: Empty spray cans, gas canisters, and lighters (these often require specific handling for safety).
• Miscellaneous: Umbrellas and certain types of hard plastics.

What is Oversized Garbage in Japan?

Generally, any item oversized garbage (粗大ごみ, sodai gomi) exceeding 30cm to 50cm on any side is classified as such. This includes:

• Furniture (desks, chairs, sofas)
• Bicycles
• Mattresses
• Large suitcases
• Tatami Floors

⚠️ Note on Appliances: Due to the Home Appliance Recycling Law, items like refrigerators, washing machines, air conditioners, and TVs cannot be disposed of as Sodai Gomi. You usually need to contact the retailer where you bought them or a specialized recycling center.

What a Dump Run At A Waste Center Looks Like (Step by Step)

In Japan, a “dump run” usually means driving waste directly to a municipal incinerator or disposal facility, where fees are charged by weight. But if you’re imagining tossing bags into a skip and driving off… adjust expectations.

Here’s what a typical incinerator run looks like:

1. Drive to the incinerator or disposal facility
2. Drive your vehicle onto a scale
3. Get out, sign paperwork, and show ID
4. Declare exactly what kind of garbage you’re dumping
5. Staff may inspect clear garbage bags
6. Your vehicle is weighed with the garbage
7. You’re directed inside to unload it yourself (bring gloves)
8. Staff guide you on where each item goes
9. Exit and weigh the vehicle again
10. Pay the fee based on the difference*

*Waste is charged by weight, and fees vary by municipality. If it’s your first time, just tell the staff—they’ll explain the process and give you the pricing sheet.

Before Your First Dump Run: A Quick Checklist

• Confirm the disposal site accepts your type of garbage
• Check whether proof of local residency is required
• Bring ID and, if needed, your real estate registration certificate (不動産登記権利情報)
• Sort garbage by one material type per run if possible
• Use clear bags unless told otherwise
• Bring gloves, masks, and clothes you don’t mind getting dirty
• Budget time — dump runs often take longer than expected

Japanese Garbage Vocabulary You’ll Actually Hear at the Dump

You don’t need perfect Japanese to do dump runs — but recognizing a few key words makes the process far less intimidating.

• 可燃ごみ (kanen gomi) – Burnable garbage
• 不燃ごみ (funen gomi) – Non-burnable garbage
• 粗大ごみ (sodai gomi) – Oversized garbage (furniture, large items)
• 産業廃棄物 (sangyō haikibutsu) – Industrial/construction waste
• 処分場 (shobunjō) – Disposal site/dump
• 持ち込み (mochikomi) – Direct drop-off (bringing garbage yourself)

You’ll often be asked what kind of garbage you’re dumping, not just how much.

How Much Does It Cost? (And How Expensive Can It Get?)

Costs vary by municipality, but for everyday burnable household garbage, you’re usually looking at ¥50–¥300 per 10 kg. Some waste centers charge per load instead, as long as you stay under a set weight or volume limit.

Construction waste is where things escalate fast. As a rough rule, budget for at least five times the cost of household trash — and again, prices vary by facility.

For example, disposing of a half-load of broken drywall in a kei truck costs us over ¥10,000. That single dump run was enough to make us painfully aware of every off-cut and mistake. After that, we became much more careful about what we tore out and what we could reuse.

Can Foreigners Use Dump Sites in Japan? (Residency Rules Explained)

Another complication: many municipal incinerators and disposal sites only accept waste from local residents.

You may be required to:

• Be a registered resident of the city or town
• Show ID with a local address

This can be a major hurdle if:

• You’re purchasing from overseas
• You haven’t moved in yet
• Your residence card still shows a previous address

Household Garbage vs. Construction Waste

If you’re renovating, construction waste is often separated again, and often goes to different facilities:

• Wood
• Drywall/plasterboard
• Insulation
• Mixed construction debris

That means multiple trips, multiple locations, over weeks or months — and yes, fees at almost every stop.

The Hidden Cost of Construction Waste

Daily household garbage usually isn’t too expensive. Renovation waste is another story.

One of our biggest surprises was the cost of disposing of drywall. After carefully budgeting for materials, we realized it cost almost as much to dump old drywall as it did to buy new drywall.

If you’re renovating an older, neglected house, garbage disposal can quietly rival your material costs if you’re not prepared.

For Everyday Trash Pickup in Japan

If you’re already living in the house — or handling smaller amounts of waste — everyday garbage follows the local municipal system.

Garbage must be put out only on designated days. In our area, burnable garbage goes out on Mondays and Fridays — anything else on the wrong day simply won’t be collected.

In our case, a pickup schedule looks like this:

• Recycling is often collected once a month
• Burnable garbage may be collected once or twice a week
• Non-burnable garbage may be collected very infrequently (sometimes only once or twice a year)
• Oversized trash is often collected once a year or with advance notice. You can call your local “Sodai Gomi Center” or apply online to schedule a pickup date. Purchase “Waste Disposal Tickets” (stickers) at a local convenience store (prices vary by item) and attach the sticker to your item.

We also make sure to:

• Use designated municipal garbage bags (ours cost about ¥600 for 10 large bags)
• Place items at the designated spot (usually outside your house or apartment) by 8:00 AM on the scheduled morning.
• Use a covered garbage cage to keep animals out

Tip: Check your local Garbage Collection Calendar. Most cities provide a color-coded map showing exactly which day each category is collected and which specific bags you are required to use. You can pick one up at the local city or ward office.

Garbage Disposal FAQ During Akiya Renovations

Final Thoughts: Plan for Garbage Like It’s a Renovation Phase

Garbage disposal in Japan isn’t impossible — but it is something you need to plan for. Once we stopped treating garbage as an afterthought and started planning for it the same way we planned materials and labor, everything felt more manageable. 

If you’re considering an akiya renovation, budget extra time and money for disposal. Your future self (and maybe even your wallet) will thank you!