Karinoya Learning Room

Daily Life Lessons · Garbage

Recyclables and Recycling

Goal of this lesson

Be able to identify recyclables by the identification marks on containers and packaging, prepare them by washing, removing parts, and bundling, and put them out correctly for municipal collection or in-store collection.

Explanation

Recyclables (資源ごみ) become raw materials for new products if they are put out clean. The identification marks (識別マーク) on containers and packaging help you tell what is recyclable. The triangular "PET" mark means a PET bottle, "プラ" (pura) means plastic containers and packaging, and "紙" (kami) means paper containers and packaging; cans carry an "アルミ" (aluminum) or "スチール" (steel) mark.

Before putting them out, empty the containers and rinse them lightly. Many municipalities ask you to remove the caps and labels from PET bottles, and how to sort what you remove also differs by municipality.

Some supermarkets and other stores have in-store collection boxes (店頭回収) for food trays, paper cartons, and PET bottles. Some municipalities collect small electronic devices such as mobile phones in collection boxes at public facilities and other places. Delete your data beforehand.

Read in Easy Japanese (yasashii nihongo)

資源（しげん）ごみは、リサイクルして また つかいます。

マークを 見ると わかります。 - PET（三角のマーク）：ペットボトル - プラ：プラスチックの 入れ物や ふくろ - 紙：紙の 入れ物 - アルミ・スチール：かん

出す 前に： - 中を からに して、水で かるく あらいます。 - ペットボトルは、キャップと ラベルを とります。

スーパーの 回収（かいしゅう）ボックスに 出せる ものも あります。けいたい電話は、データを けしてから 回収ボックスへ。

分け方は 市や町で ちがいます。

Check quiz

Q1

What does the mark with "PET" inside a triangle mean?

  1. A paper container
  2. An aluminum can
  3. A glass bottle
  4. A PET bottle
AnswerD. A PET bottle

It is the identification mark for PET bottles. Displaying it is required by law.

Q2

How do many municipalities ask you to prepare PET bottles before putting them out as recyclables?

  1. Put them out with the contents still inside
  2. Empty and rinse them, and remove the caps and labels
  3. Do not crush them, and double-bag them
  4. Put them out with burnable garbage
AnswerB. Empty and rinse them, and remove the caps and labels

Many municipalities ask you to empty them, rinse them lightly, and remove the caps and labels. Check your municipality's guide for how to sort what you remove.

Q3

What has the "プラ" (pura) mark on it?

  1. Plastic containers and packaging
  2. Steel cans
  3. Newspapers
  4. Glass cups
AnswerA. Plastic containers and packaging

"プラ" is the identification mark for plastic containers and packaging.

Q4

Which statement about in-store collection boxes at supermarkets is correct?

  1. You can put any garbage in them
  2. They are for household food waste
  3. They may collect specific recyclables such as food trays and paper cartons
  4. They are a place to leave oversized garbage
AnswerC. They may collect specific recyclables such as food trays and paper cartons

Each store decides which items it collects. Check the signs and put in only the specified items.

Q5

What should you do before putting an old mobile phone in a collection box?

  1. Delete the data
  2. Wash it with water
  3. Peel off the labels
  4. Wrap it in paper and write "キケン" (danger)
AnswerA. Delete the data

Delete the data beforehand so no personal information remains. Collection methods and accepted items differ by municipality.

Frequently asked questions

Q. What about plastic containers that won't come clean?

A. Some municipalities ask you to put out items that stay dirty even after a light rinse as burnable garbage or similar, not as recyclables. Check your municipality's guide.

Q. How do I put out old paper (newspapers, magazines, cardboard)?

A. Many municipalities collect it as recyclables. Follow your municipality's guide, for example by sorting it by type and tying it in bundles with string.

Q. In my town, are plastic products recyclable too?

A. Since the Plastic Resource Circulation Act took effect in 2022, some municipalities collect plastic products together with containers and packaging, but this is still only some of them. Check your municipality's guide.

Practice: answer the questions on this page

This practice tool asks questions in random order (it works when JavaScript is enabled). You can still read all the questions and explanations above without it.

Systems and procedures may differ depending on the city, ward, town or village where you live and on the time of year. Please check the latest information from your local government or the relevant organizations.
Content checked on: 2026-09-28

This page is a translation of the Japanese original. If the translation and the original differ, the Japanese version takes precedence. View the Japanese original