Sorting trash in Japan, which boasts some of the strictest waste disposal rules in the world, can be a complicated process for beginners.
But the situation in Fukushima will become more difficult.
Starting in March, the city will inspect trash bags that violate regulations, such as trash that is not properly sorted or trash that exceeds the size limit, and in some cases, publicly reveal the owner.
The new regulations, passed by the city council on Tuesday, come amid Japan’s long-standing efforts to strengthen its waste management system.
While many cities in Japan open trash bags for inspection, and some allow problematic companies to disclose them, Fukushima is believed to be the first to try to make the names of both individuals and companies public.
The Fukushima Waste Reduction Promotion Department said in a statement to the BBC that waste had previously not been properly disposed of, leading to littering and a surge in crows.
The Ministry of Environment said, “Improper disposal of waste is the biggest problem that worsens the living environment of local residents.”
Poorly sorted waste leads to more landfills, “which puts a burden on future generations,” he added.
“So we attach great importance to waste sorting.”
Last year, more than 9,000 cases of non-compliant waste were reported in Fukushima.
Now, instead of picking up trash that doesn’t comply with disposal regulations, workers often place stickers on bags to notify residents of the violation. Residents then have to take them back inside, sort them again, and hope they get them right the next time the collectors come.
Under Fukushima’s new regulations, if trash remains unsorted for a week, city workers can look through it and try to identify offenders through mail and other sources. Violators will be given a verbal warning and a written recommendation before final action is taken and their names will be published on the government website.
Amid privacy concerns, Fukushima authorities said the waste survey would be conducted privately.
Each city in Japan has its own guide on how to dispose of waste. In Fukushima, garbage bags must be dropped off at the collection site by 08:30 every morning, but not from the night before.
Different types of waste, separated into combustible waste, non-combustible waste and recycling waste, are collected according to different schedules.
For items that exceed the specified specifications, such as home appliances and furniture, residents must make a reservation for separate collection.
Fukushima Mayor Hiroshi Kohata said the new regulations were intended to encourage waste reduction and proper disposal methods.
“It is not illegal to promote malicious waste generators who do not follow the rules and do not follow the city’s guidance and recommendations,” Mainichi officials said.
Waste is taken very seriously in Japan, and since the 1990s the government has made it a national goal to reduce waste in landfills and promote recycling. Local authorities have introduced their own plans to meet these objectives.
Residents of Kamikatsu, a Japanese town with an ambitious goal of zero waste, proudly sort their waste into 45 categories. Kagoshima Prefecture has made it mandatory to write residents’ names on trash bags. And last year, the city of Chiba tested an AI assistant to help residents properly dispose of their waste.
