Quick answer
In Japan, large furniture and appliances (粗大ごみ, sodai gomi, oversized garbage) usually cannot simply be thrown out as regular garbage. You generally need to book with your municipality (jichitai) first, buy a 粗大ごみ処理券 (sodai gomi shori-ken, disposal fee ticket) and attach it to the item, then put the item out at the designated place on the designated date. Size thresholds, fees, and methods vary by municipality — follow the instructions of your own 市区町村 (shikuchōson, city, ward, town, or village).
What this document is
「粗大ごみ」 generally refers to garbage larger than the size threshold set by your municipality (the exact threshold varies by municipality, often defined by the length of one side of the item). Disposal usually involves:
- 申込 / 予約 (mōshikomi / yoyaku) — applying or booking with the municipality by phone or online.
- 粗大ごみ処理券（手数料券） (sodai gomi shori-ken / tesūryō-ken) — a fee ticket bought at convenience stores and similar shops and attached to the item.
- 収集日 / 持込 (shūshūbi / mochikomi) — putting the item out on the designated collection date, or bringing it to a designated processing facility yourself.
Common fields on the document
- 粗大ごみ (sodai gomi) — oversized garbage.
- 粗大ごみ処理券 / 手数料券 (sodai gomi shori-ken / tesūryō-ken) — disposal fee ticket.
- 申込番号 / 受付番号 (mōshikomi bangō / uketsuke bangō) — application / reception number.
- 収集日 (shūshūbi) — collection date.
- 手数料 (tesūryō) — disposal fee.
- 家電リサイクル (kaden risaikuru) — home appliance recycling (the 4 categories of air conditioners, TVs, refrigerators and freezers, and washing machines and clothes dryers).
What you need to do
- Check whether the item counts as 粗大ごみ (see your municipality's size threshold).
- Book with your municipality, and note down the 申込番号 (application number) and the 収集日 (collection date).
- Buy and attach the 粗大ごみ処理券, writing your application number or name on it.
- Put the item out at the designated place on the designated date. Air conditioners, TVs, refrigerators and freezers, and washing machines and clothes dryers (the 家電 4 品目, kaden yon hinmoku, 4 designated appliance categories) go through 家電リサイクル (home appliance recycling) as a separate procedure.
Where the deadline / amount may appear
- Deadline: bookings often need to be made several days in advance, and there is a designated 収集日 (collection date); follow your municipality's instructions.
- Amount: the disposal fee appears as 「手数料」 (set by item type / size); follow the ticket denominations specified by your municipality.
Which official body to check with when unsure
For the specific disposal method, booking procedure, and fees, follow the instructions of your 市区町村 (city, ward, town, or village — the sanitation / environment department); for the general system, see the Ministry of the Environment's waste disposal information. Official explanations take precedence over any third-party interpretation.
Common Japanese terms
- 粗大ごみ (sodai gomi) — oversized garbage
- 粗大ごみ処理券 (sodai gomi shori-ken) — oversized garbage disposal fee ticket
- 申込 / 予約 (mōshikomi / yoyaku) — application / booking
- 収集日 (shūshūbi) — collection date
- 手数料 (tesūryō) — handling / disposal fee
- 家電リサイクル (kaden risaikuru) — home appliance recycling