Rules for Sorting and Putting Out Waste in Kobe City 

Rule 1:
Use the garbage bags designated by Kobe City for waste collection

• Sort your waste into six categories for collection.

• Six categories: 1) cans, glass bottles and jars, PET bottles; 2) plastic containers and packaging; 3) non-burnable garbage; 4) gas cartridges, spray cans; 5) burnable garbage; 6) oversized garbage

• For the following four categories: 1) cans, glass bottles and jars, PET bottles; 2) plastic containers and packaging; 3) non-burnable garbage; 5) burnable garbage, please be sure to use the garbage bags designated by Kobe City for collection.

• You can buy the garbage bags designated by Kobe City at supermarkets or convenience stores.

• For items that do not fit in the designated garbage bags, or weigh 5 kg or more individually, please make an application for oversized garbage disposal.

• Waste that the city does not collect should not be left at the Clean Station (waste collection point), even if it is placed in a designated garbage bag.

Rule 2:
 Place the waste at the designated location

• We call the “Clean Station” the waste collection points in Kobe City.

• There is a signboard that shows the collection days of the week at the Clean Stations. You can only put out specific categories of waste on the designated days listed on the signboard.

• You are not allowed to dispose of your waste at just any Clean Stations. Please check with your neighbors to find out which Clean Station you can use and its location. If you live in an apartment, consult the management company or management association of your apartment for the location of your designated Clean Station.

• You are allowed to dispose of only the specific categories of waste listed on the sign board.

Rule 3:
Put out waste between 5:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. on the designated days of the week

Each category of waste can be put out at the Clean Station only on its designated day or days of the week.

• Please check the signboard for the collection days of the week at your Clean Station.

• The collection days can be found on the Kobe City website.
　Page about garbage collection days
　Page about the garbage app

• You can leave your waste at your Clean Station only between 5:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. on the designated collection day. If you leave your waste out the day before, crows may scatter it, causing a mess and creating problems for your neighbors. Please be sure to follow the designated time and day for putting out your waste.

Rule 4:
Please use the net properly to prevent crows from pecking at the garbage bags

• If there is a net to prevent crows from pecking at the garbage bags at your Clean Station, please ensure all the garbage bags are fully covered, with none sticking out from the net.

• Crows are attracted to food waste. Please wrap it in newspaper or other paper and place it in the middle of the garbage bag so that crows cannot see it.

Waste Not Collected by the City

Air Conditioners, Televisions, Refrigerators/Freezers, Washing Machines, Clothes Dryers

The law states that air conditioners, televisions, refrigerators/freezers, washing machines, and clothes dryers must be recycled. Please be sure to consult the retailer or large electronics store where the item was purchased.

Power Banks and Rechargeable Batteries

Extreme pressure on power banks and rechargeable batteries may cause a fire. Do not leave them at the Clean Station; instead, please place them in a Battery Collection Box.

Personal Computers 

Please consult the manufacturer or retailer where the item was purchased. Laptops can be placed in the Small Home Appliance Recycling Boxes for collection. These recycling boxes are located at the ward offices and other designated locations.

Hazardous Materials Such as Gasoline and Toxic Substances

Please consult the gas station or the store where the item was purchased.

Commercial Waste, Construction Waste 


For waste generated from business activities such as shops and offices, please consult with a general waste collection licensed contractor or the business cooperative called Kyoei-kai at 078-331-3470.

For waste generated from construction work requested from a contractor, please ask the contractor who undertook the work to handle the disposal.

Do not leave a large amount of waste at one time. 

・You cannot leave a large amount of waste from clean-up activities, such as home relocation, furniture removal, or pruning garden trees, at the Clean Station at one time.

・Please dispose of it gradually on different collection days. If you cannot divide the waste, contact a business operator authorized by Kobe City for waste collection. To obtain the contact details of suitable business operators for your case, please inquire with the business cooperative called Kyoei-kai at 078-331-3470. A fee will be charged for this waste collection service.

Waste That Can Be Disposed at the Clean Stations (Waste that is collected by the city)

Cans, Glass Bottles and Jars, PET Bottles

Designated garbage bag for cans, glass bottles and jars, and PET bottles

Please place cans, glass bottles and jars, and PET bottles for drinks, food, and seasonings in a designated garbage bag and put them out at the Clean Station.

They cannot be disposed of at the Clean Station if there is still content inside. Please ensure all cans and bottles are emptied and roughly rinsed inside with water. Please also remove the caps and labels.

Please place metal caps in a designated garbage bag for non-burnables, and plastic caps and labels in a designated garbage bag for plastic containers and packaging, then put them out at the Clean Station.

Plastic Containers and Packaging

Designated garbage bag for plastic containers and packaging

Please place plastic bags and containers for food, plastic bottles for shampoo or other products, and Styrofoam used to wrap home appliances, etc. in a designated garbage bag and put them out at the Clean Station.

Plastic bags and containers with this symbol  fall under this category.

They cannot be disposed of if they still contain any contents. Please ensure all containers and packaging are emptied and roughly rinsed with water until no visible stains remain.

If stains cannot be removed, dispose it as burnable garbage. 

Non-Burnable Garbage

Designated garbage bag for non-burnables

Please place items such as glass, ceramics, and small metal goods in a designated garbage bag and put them out at the Clean Station. 

Wrap sharp items such as glass, ceramics, knives, and forks in paper and place them in a designated bag. Attach a note labeled “キケン” (dangerous) to the bag, then put them out at the Clean Station.

For umbrellas, place them diagonally in a 45-liter garbage bag for non-burnables, tie the opening of the bag, and put them out at the Clean Station.

Small home appliances can be placed in the Small Home Appliance Recycling Boxes for collection. These boxes are located at the ward offices and other designated locations.

Power banks and rechargeable batteries cannot be disposed of as non-burnables. They should be placed in a Battery Collection Box. These boxes are located at the ward offices and other designated locations.

Gas Cartridges and Spray Cans

Please ensure all gas cartridges and spray cans are emptied. There is no need to make a hole. Place them in a 15-liter or smaller transparent or semi-transparent bag and put them out at the Clean Station.

Please place them separately from non-burnable garbage at the Clean Station.

Burnable Garbage

Designated garbage bag for burnable garbages

Please place food waste, paper waste, leather, fabrics, plastic items other than containers and packaging, wood waste, and other items in a designated garbage bag for burnables, and put it out at the Clean Station.

Do not place liquids, such as leftover soup or cooking oil, directly in a designated garbage bag. Dispose of soup in the sink. Soak cooking oil in paper or fabric, or solidify it with a cooking oil coagulant, then place it in a small plastic bag before putting it in the designated garbage bag for burnables. Cooking oil coagulant can be purchased at supermarkets.

Drain food waste well to reduce its water content before disposing of it.

Place diapers and pet pads in a plastic bag first, then in a designated garbage bag for burnables, and put them out at the Clean Station.

Cardboard and used books can be disposed of in a designated garbage bag for burnables. However, putting them out at the Clean Station without placing them in the designated garbage bag is against the rules. For paper, cardboard, and fabrics, there are different collection methods other than burnable garbage collection. Please refer to the “Group Recycling Collection” column.

Oversized Garbage

When you dispose of items too large for a designated garbage bag or weighing 5 kg or more, contact the Oversized Garbage Reception Center either by phone or through the online service to make a reservation. (Tel: 078-392-7953 [9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.] Fax: 078-392-5500)
Oversized Garbage Reception Center Page

Disposal of oversized garbage requires a fee. The Oversized Garbage Reception Center will inform you of the fee amount (the price for a sticker exclusive to oversized garbage disposal), the collection date, and the location. Please purchase the stickers exclusive to oversized garbage disposal at a convenience store or other retailer, attach them to the items to be disposed of, and place them out on the designated day and at the location specified by the Oversized Garbage Reception Center. 

English, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Portuguese, Spanish, and Thai are available at the Oversized Garbage Reception Center.

Up to five items can be disposed of at one time as oversized garbage.

Paper, Cardboard, and Fabric Collections (Group Recycling Collection)

There are other types of collections besides burnable garbage collection for items such as newspapers, cardboard, magazines, used books, wrapping paper, paper boxes (e.g., snack boxes), used clothes, and old fabrics. The rules, locations, and dates for these collections vary depending on where you live. Such collections might not be available in some areas, so please ask your neighbors or the management company or management association of your apartment. If these collections are not available, please place paper, cardboard, and fabrics in a designated garbage bag for burnables and put them out at the Clean Station.

Information on group recycling collections is also available on the city’s website.
Group Recycling Collection page

Small Home Appliance Recycling Box

Collection boxes for recycling small home appliances are located at the ward offices and supermarkets.

Items that do not fit in the slot of a collection box cannot be disposed of. The dimensions of the slot are 15 cm in height, 30 cm in width, and 35 cm in depth.

The locations of the Small Home Appliances Recycling Boxes can also be found on the city’s website.
Small Home Appliance Recycling Box Locations Page

 Battery Collection Box

Collection boxes for recycling batteries are located at the ward offices.

The box collects dry cells, primary lithium batteries, button cell batteries, small rechargeable batteries, and power banks.

The locations of the Battery Collection Boxes can also be found on the city’s website.
Battery Collection Box Locations Page