Fun Japan Fact: Trash Cans
Christopher | June 19, 2009
Trash cans are exceptionally rare in Japan. Recycling is taken very seriously and you can find a recycle bin next to every vending machine. If you have a wrapper from the pastry you bought at the bread shop… well, just stick it in your pocket until you get home.
The reason behind this is very unclear. Some people say trash cans disappeared after the serin gas attacks years ago. Others say that Japan never really had that many trash cans in attempt to keep you from littering. Backwards logic, perhaps, but it seems too work. This place is amazingly clean.
The picture you see is the first trash can I’ve seen on my travels. It was found in a temple in Kita Kamakura.
Yeah, quite frustrating if you have a bit of plastic
neil | June 20, 2009Yeah, quite frustrating if you have a bit of plastic to dispose of – you will find recycling bins and burnable bins quite often, but non burnables – not so often (but they do have them at some conbini. I have heard that non burnable trash is ALSO burned, but hotter. Really though, I would trade an abundane of trash cans for the on street vending machines in a heart beat!