Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

October is the 3R month. Let’s try to reduce, reuse and recycle waste aiming for a recycling-based society.

Reduce

• When shopping at the grocery store, please buy only the quantity you need.
• Avoid leftovers when cooking.
• Dry kitchen garbage before discarding.
• Carry your own shopping bags.

Refrigerator Clean Up Day

The 30th of every month is “Refrigerator Clean Up Day”. Let’s cook and use up perishable food, such as vegetables and meat promptly before they decay.

No More Food Loss, Waste-free Cooking Day

The 10th of every month is “No More Food Loss, Waste-free Cooking Day.”
Please reuse the leftover made from everyday meals, such as vegetable peels.

Reuse

• Purchase refill-type shampoo and kitchen detergents.
• Carry your own chopsticks and cups.
• Give away used clothes to someone who needs them instead of discarding them.

Recycled Furniture Exhibition

To promote the practice of reuse, Minato City collects used wooden furniture that is still in good condition, exhibits and sells at the Recycled Furniture Exhibition.
Place: Minato Recycling Center 2nd floor, 5-7-1 Konan
There is no parking space available. Please use the public transportation.
Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Closed: Sunday, every third Thursday, and December 28 to January 3

Recycle and reuse of clothing

Minato City collects used clothing at designated collecting points for recycling and reuse. Put used clothing in a transparent bag and bring them to the collecting boxes. Please wash all clothes before recycling them.

Collectable items

All reusable clothing, shoes, socks, towels, etc. Only good condition items will be accepted.

Note

Shoes and socks are only accepted in matching pairs. Tie them together.
Place clothes and shoes in separate bags.

Collecting points

Regional City Offices, Eco Plaza, Minato Recycling and Waste Management Office Operations Contact Center

Recycle

• Purchase recycled goods.
• Follow waste sorting instructions below.

Collection of used small home appliances at collecting points

To collect valuable metal in small-sized home appliances, Minato City places collection box in some city-owned facilities.

Collectable items

portable video cameras, calculators, AC adaptors and cords, digital cameras, electronic dictionaries, portable players, portable car navigation systems, cell phones, portable game machines.

Collecting points

Regional City Office, Eco Plaza, Minato Recycling and Waste Management Office, etc.

Sorting recyclables and waste

We appreciate your cooperation for sorting waste.

Recyclables

Collected once a week
Food/beverage bottles or cans, plastic bottles, newspapers, milk cartons, cardboard, other recyclable papers

• Bottles and cans: Rinse well.
• Plastic bottles: Remove all caps and plastic films. Caps and plastic films are recyclable plastics.

Recyclable plastics

Collected once a week
Films, plastic trays, bags, packs, cups, plastic hangers and toothbrushes.

• Rinse and remove dirt from items.
• Dispose of dirty plastic items with combustible waste.
• Do not repackage into small bags.
• Do not mix with metal and other recyclables such as plastic bottles.

For more information, please visit Minato City Web or the Guidebook for Sorting Recyclables and Waste. An English version is available.

To prevent the spread of COVID-19

• Put used masks and tissues in plastic bag, close it, and then put that bag in a waste bag.
• Dispose plastic bottles and recyclable plastics used by infected person as combustible waste.
• Close the garbage bags when discarding at the waste collection sites.
• Prevent crows from scattering garbage at the waste collection sites.

*Wash your hands with soap after discarding waste.