カテゴリー別アーカイブ: Daily Living

There are so many things around us and all are made from various substances…

In Japan, we are requested to separate trash according to each ward regulations so that recycling is possible. To sort them correctly, it’s important that we  uunderstand what the marks below mean and represent. Trash sorting regulations   vary according to where you live. Please contact your local ward office for recycling details of your neighborhood.

A mark made by the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle promotion council to urge active participation and cooperation towards the  3R movement

List of Environmental labels and identification marks

	STEEL CANS Mandatory mark under Recycling  law for beverage packaging  containers made from steel to promote sorted collection
	ALUMINUM CANS
	PETROLIUM PRODUCT MADE WITH USE OF POLYETHYLENE  TEREPHTHALATE (PET) RESIN
	PLASTIC
	PAPER
	RETURNABLE GLASS BOTTLES
	CARDBOARD
	PRODUCT WITH OVER 25% RECYCLED POLYETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE (PET) RESIN
	100% RECYCLED PAPER
	PERSONAL COMPUTER RECYCLE MARK
	Ni-Cd (Nickel-Cadmium) Ni-MH (Nickel-metal-hydride) Li-ion (Lithium-Ion)]
	MOBILE RECYCLE NETWORK  LOGOMARK A mark of proof of stores that recover and collect mobile phones, PHS, battery chargers, batteries for free of charge in effort to recycle metal scraps that can be taken from them.
	ECOLOGY MARK A product approved by the Japan  Environmental Association to be of least adverse impact to the environment
	GREEN MARK Recycled waste paper
	PC GREEN LABEL Personal Computers that are designed and manufactured according to environmentally friendly standards
	GENERAL STEEL CANS
	18 LITER STEEL CANS A mark to promote recycling of 18 Liter steel cans

*Have you ever heard of NPO Ecocap Movement?
They collect caps of plastic bottles and sell them to recyclers.
The profit is donated to provide vaccine to children in developing countries.         
Please see below for more information:   http://ecocap007.com/aboutecocap.html

How to Sort Out and Place Your Garbage and Waste.

From October 2008, new garbage collection rules applied in all areas within Tokyo 23 wards.

Major wards’ garbage collection list: (PDF)

Minato-ku
Shibuya-ku
Chiyoda-ku
Chuo-ku
Meguro-ku
Shinagawa-ku
Shinjuku-ku
Setagaya-ku
Edogawa-ku

When you move-in to your rental house/apartment, most of the houses/apartments don’t come with the light fixture in Japan.
Please check carefully when you are looking for a house/apartment.
If you cannot find the light fixture that means you need to prepare the lights at your own costs.
Where to find light fixture & globes:
Any major electronics retail stores such as Bic Camera, Yodobashi Camera, or major hardware stores near you.
You may need to be careful when you change your electric globes, there are different shapes and sizes. 
We recommend you to keep the old globe and bring it to the store with you, or write down the size of the globe or Model No. if you know.

Screw type globes are the most popular shape in Japan.
It could be hard to find a ‘ push & twist-in’ type globes in local shops.  (I found those push & twist-in type ones at Bic Camera Yurakucho.)
Even if the house/apartment comes with light fixture, you still need to replace globes at you own cost as they are expendables.