When it comes to recycling, Japan may not be the global green hero just yet, but that doesn’t mean people are blissfully tossing their trash into the wind. Some cities are stepping up in major ways.
I learned this firsthand five years ago when I visited my mom in Matsuyama—a charming city on an island about an hour away from Japan’s main island. I thought I’d impress her with my recycling know-how, but turns out, she was the real pro. My mom knew every detail of the recycling process, from separating items to what happened to them afterward.
The city does an amazing job with educating and getting everyone involved. Each supermarket has a lineup of recycling bins that makes your kitchen look like an amateur. But here’s the twist: you don’t just casually toss things in. Oh no, you’ve got to be prepared. Plastic trays, PET bottles, and milk cartons are washed, labels carefully removed, and only then do they make their grand entrance to the supermarket bins.
Recycle bins at a supermarket in Japan
Even manufacturers are on board! Packaging is getting sleeker, and those annoying labels? They’re now as easy to remove as a sticker from a brand-new phone. When people found out that their beloved blue bottle of lotion was an environmental nightmare, they pushed for change—and guess what? The company switched up the packaging.
With climate change hitting harder each year, it’s clear this isn’t just someone else’s problem. It’s ours. Everyone has to play their part in this well-choreographed dance.
This year, when I visited Kyoto, I saw signs of progress. Train stations, construction sites, and various other spots displayed the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Some supermarkets had added recycling bins, too. Big cities are catching on, and I hope this momentum continues.
17 SDGs at a construction site in Kyoto
This year, when I visited Kyoto, I saw signs of progress. Train stations, construction sites, and various other spots displayed the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Some supermarkets had added recycling bins, too. Big cities are catching on, and I hope this momentum continues.
At my friend’s place, the A/C started making some strange noises, so I called for a repair. Turns out, all it needed was a little screw. Simple, right? Wrong. They told me the manufacturer didn’t have the part anymore and that buying a new A/C would be cheaper than fixing it.
So, while Japan is making strides in some areas, there’s still a long way to go.