TL;DR: In Japan you can dispose of unwanted items four ways — sell/give away, municipal oversized garbage, appliance recycling (for TVs/fridges/washers/ACs), or a junk-removal service. Municipal pickup is cheapest at ¥100s–1,000s but you haul it out yourself; hiring a service runs from a few thousand yen for a single item up to ¥10,000–30,000 for a light truck or ¥30,000–80,000 for a 2-ton truck. Everyday household trash is sorted into categories like burnable, non-burnable, and recyclable, with the exact names, collection days, and bag rules set by each municipality. For volume or speed, use a service; to do it on moving day, bundle it on IeGo.
Junk Removal & Garbage Sorting in Japan
Updated: October 2026
How much does junk removal cost in Japan?
Hiring a junk-removal service in Japan runs from a few thousand yen for a single item, to ¥10,000–30,000 for a light-truck "load it all" plan, up to ¥30,000–80,000 for a 2-ton truck. The cheapest options are municipal oversized-garbage pickup (¥100s–1,000s, though you carry it out yourself) or selling usable items via a flea-market app or resale shop. TVs, fridges, washing machines, and air conditioners are the exception: Japan's Home Appliance Recycling Law requires a recycling fee (a few thousand yen) plus haulage, no matter which disposal route you take.
| Plan | Typical price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Single item (one piece of furniture/appliance) | A few thousand yen+ | Just 1–2 things to clear out |
| Light-truck "load it all" plan | ¥10,000–30,000 | Clearing a studio to 1LDK |
| 2-ton truck plan | ¥30,000–80,000 | 2LDK+, or a large volume |
※ Actual quotes vary by item, volume, floor, and region. Compare free quotes before booking.
Cheapest options, ranked
- Sell or give away items (flea-market apps, recycle-shop buy-back) — effectively free if it sells, and sometimes a little income. Learn more →
- Municipal oversized-garbage pickup — ¥100s–1,000s (a per-item collection ticket). Cheapest option, but you carry it out yourself, and it can take days to weeks from request to collection.
- Appliance disposal under the Home Appliance Recycling Law — TVs, fridges, washers, and ACs require a recycling fee (a few thousand yen) plus haulage. They can't go out as oversized garbage, so this is the only legal route.
- Hire a service for a single item — a few thousand yen+. Same-day, carry-out included — useful if you can't move it yourself or are short on time. Learn more →
- Hire a service for a full truckload — ¥10,000–30,000 for a light truck, ¥30,000–80,000 for a 2-ton truck. Least effort when you have volume or want it cleared on moving day. Learn more →
What raises the price
- Item type and volume — bulky furniture and appliances that take more labor to carry out cost more.
- Floor level and elevator access — no elevator on a high floor means more work hauling items out, which shows up in the price.
- Whether it falls under the Home Appliance Recycling Law — TVs, fridges, washers, and ACs always add a recycling fee.
- Region — the number of operating companies and their coverage area differ between cities and rural areas, affecting price.
- How fast you need it gone — municipal pickup can take days to weeks from request to collection, while a service can often come same-day to a few days later, which costs more.
How to get quotes and save money
- Sell what you can first — listing items on a flea-market app or recycle shop before booking a service cuts the volume (and the price). Learn more →
- Get free quotes from more than one company — on IeGo you can request free quotes from multiple junk-removal services and compare price and reviews. Learn more →
- Book it together with your move — IeGo lets you arrange moving and junk removal in one request, so unwanted items are hauled away the same day you move out. Learn more →
- Check retailer take-back for recyclable appliances — using the store you bought it from or a designated drop-off can be cheaper than a disposal service for TVs, fridges, washers, and ACs.
6 steps to choose a disposal method
- 1
Sort everything
Split into reusable, recyclable, and waste — and by size. Set aside usable items to sell or give away.
- 2
Sell or give away usable items
Use recycle shops, flea-market apps, or IeGo Marketplace. Items in good condition can fetch a buy-back price.
Learn more → - 3
Put furniture out as oversized garbage
Apply to your municipality, buy an oversized-garbage sticker, and set items out on the assigned day. Cheap (¥100s–1,000s) but you carry it out and it takes days.
- 4
Follow the appliance recycling law
TVs, fridges, washers, and ACs can't go out as oversized garbage. Use retailer take-back or a designated drop-off; expect a recycling fee (a few thousand yen) plus haulage.
- 5
Hire a junk-removal service for volume
Same-day, carry-out included — no heavy lifting. Choose a load-it-all light truck or a 2-ton plan. Compare providers free on IeGo.
Learn more → - 6
Bundle it with your move
On IeGo you can book moving and junk removal in one request and have everything hauled away on moving day.
Learn more →
Sorting everyday garbage in Japan
Japanese households sort trash into a few broad categories — typically burnable (moeru gomi), non-burnable (moenai gomi), recyclables (shigen gomi: bottles, cans, PET bottles), and oversized garbage (sodai gomi). The exact category names, collection days, and whether a designated bag is required are all set locally: under the Waste Management and Public Cleansing Act, each municipality writes its own sorting rules, so they vary from one city or ward to the next.
- Collection days & bags: Most municipalities assign a fixed weekday to each category and require a designated bag — sometimes a paid one — set out at the collection point by a set time, often 8am.
- Sort it wrong and: it's usually left uncollected with a sticker explaining the issue, and you have to bring it back in and put it out again on the correct day.
- Rinse recyclables: bottles, cans, and PET bottles should be rinsed, with labels and caps removed and sorted separately, before they go out as recyclables.
- Batteries & spray cans need care: spray cans and lighters are usually punctured before disposal, and batteries are typically collected on a separate day or in a separate container — sanitation workers can be injured if these go out incorrectly.
- Check your local rules: when you move, check your municipality's own sorting calendar or app — rules differ from one city to the next even within the same prefecture.
Frequently asked questions
How much does junk removal cost in Japan?
Single items start from a few thousand yen; a load-it-all light truck runs ¥10,000–30,000, and a 2-ton truck ¥30,000–80,000, varying by item, volume, floor, and region. That's more than municipal oversized-garbage pickup (¥100s–1,000s), but it includes same-day, carry-out service.
Which truck size should I choose?
A light-truck "load it all" plan (¥10,000–30,000) usually covers a studio to 1LDK clearout; a 2-ton truck (¥30,000–80,000) is the benchmark for a 2LDK or larger, or several large items. If you're unsure, send a mover photos or your room size for an accurate quote.
Can I throw away a fridge or washing machine as oversized garbage?
No. TVs, fridges, washers, and ACs fall under the Home Appliance Recycling Law and can't go out as oversized garbage. Use retailer take-back, a designated drop-off, or a disposal service.
What's the cheapest way to dispose of furniture?
Municipal oversized-garbage pickup is cheapest (¥100s–1,000s), but you must carry it out yourself and it takes days. A junk-removal service is easier if you want it gone fast.
Can items be collected on moving day?
Yes — IeGo lets you book moving and junk removal together, so unwanted items are taken at the same time as your move.
What happens if I put trash out on the wrong day?
It's usually left uncollected with a warning sticker explaining the problem. You then have to bring it back in and put it out again on the correct collection day — repeat issues can draw a notice from your neighborhood association or building manager.
Can I put bottles and cans out as-is?
No. Most municipalities require you to rinse them and remove labels and caps before putting them out on recyclables day. Exact rules vary by municipality, so check your local government's sorting guide.