TL;DR: In Japan, a washing machine falls under the Home Appliance Recycling Law, so it can't go out as oversized garbage. If you're buying a new one, the store selling it takes the old one; if not, ask the store you bought it from. If you don't know where that was, ask your municipality, or pay the recycling fee at a post office and take it to a designated drop-off site yourself. You pay a recycling fee plus a collection fee; dropping it off yourself saves the collection fee, and selling or giving away a working machine costs nothing.
How to Dispose of a Washing Machine in Japan
Updated: November 2026
Why a washing machine isn't oversized garbage
Japan's Home Appliance Recycling Law covers four kinds of appliance: air conditioners, TVs, refrigerators and freezers, and washing machines and clothes dryers. It splits the job three ways: you pay the recycling and collection fees, retailers take the appliances back, and manufacturers recycle them. That's why municipalities don't collect washing machines as oversized or non-burnable garbage.
What you pay
When a store or operator takes it, you pay two things: a recycling fee and a collection fee. The recycling fee is set per maker and item, and you can look it up on the Appliance Recycling Ticket Center website. The collection fee is set by whoever takes the machine, so the total for the same washing machine depends on who you ask.
- Drop it off yourself and you pay only the recycling fee.
- Sell it or give it away and you pay neither.
Look up the recycling fee (Appliance Recycling Ticket Center, Japanese)
How to dispose of it, by situation
| Method | What you pay | Effort |
|---|---|---|
| Store you're buying from | Recycling fee + collection fee | Low (taken when the new one arrives) |
| Store you bought it from | Recycling fee + collection fee | Low (just book a date) |
| Ask your municipality | Depends on who they refer you to | Medium |
| Drop it off yourself | Recycling fee only | High (you carry and drive it) |
| Sell or give it away | Nothing (you may earn money) | Medium (listing and handover) |
| Junk removal or with your move | The operator's quote (check the recycling fee) | Low |
Have the store you're buying from take it
Best when: You're buying a new washing machine
Under the Home Appliance Recycling Law, a retailer must take back the same type of old appliance when you buy a replacement from them. They can carry the old one out the day they deliver the new one, which makes this the least effort. You pay the store the recycling fee plus a collection fee.
Ask the store you bought it from
Best when: You're not replacing it, but you know where you bought it
Retailers must also take back appliances they sold you in the past. You pay the recycling fee plus a collection fee; the collection fee is set by each store, so ask first.
Ask your city or ward office
Best when: You don't know where it came from, the store is far away, or it has closed
Your municipality's garbage and recycling desk will point you to retailers or licensed operators that take washing machines. Some municipalities accept them for collection themselves.
See local rules →Take it to a designated drop-off site yourself
Best when: You have a vehicle and someone to help carry it
Fill in an appliance recycling ticket at a post office, pay the recycling fee there, then drive the machine to the drop-off site designated for its maker. There's no collection fee, but you do all the carrying and driving.
How to drop it off →Sell it or give it away
Best when: It still works well
If someone else takes it, through a resale shop, a flea-market app or a friend, you pay neither the recycling fee nor a collection fee. Newer, clean machines with all their parts sell most easily.
List it on the IeGo marketplace →Add it to a junk removal job or your move
Best when: You're clearing out other things too, or you're in a hurry
It goes out with your furniture and other items in one trip. Check that the quote includes the recycling fee and that the operator will hand the machine into the appliance recycling system, and choose one that can explain its licences and how it disposes of appliances.
Get junk removal quotes →Dropping it off yourself, step by step
- 1
Find the maker's name
The recycling fee and the drop-off site both depend on the maker. Check the rating label on the machine.
- 2
Look up the fee and the nearest drop-off site
On the Appliance Recycling Ticket Center (RKC) website, search by maker and item (washing machine or clothes dryer) for the recycling fee and the designated drop-off sites near you.
- 3
Fill in a recycling ticket at a post office and pay
Use the appliance recycling ticket (payment slip) at the post office counter to pay the recycling fee. Keep your copy: it is your proof of payment.
- 4
Take it to the drop-off site
Check the opening hours, bring the machine and the ticket, and hand it over. You can follow up on the hand-over with the ticket number on the RKC website.
Before it goes: draining and carrying
- 1
Drain it the day before
Close the tap, run the machine briefly to empty the supply hose, then disconnect it. Next, run a spin-only cycle to empty the drum and the drain hose. Follow your manual for the exact steps.
- 2
Empty the drain hose and filters
Lower the drain hose to let the last water out. Front-loaders also hold water in the lint and drain filters; drain them over a towel.
- 3
Dry it out and gather the parts
Leave the lid or door open so it doesn't leak or smell on the way. If you're selling it, keep the supply hose and other parts with the machine.
- 4
Check the way out and get help
Washing machines are heavy, front-loaders especially, so carry them with at least two people. Measure doors, hallways and stairs, and check whether there's a lift.
If you use a collection company
Collecting household waste requires a municipal licence. Unlicensed "free collection" trucks may dump what they take or charge a large fee once it's loaded, and Japan's Ministry of the Environment warns against using them. Before you book, check the operator's licence, get a quote that itemises the recycling fee, and confirm the machine will go through the appliance recycling system.
Local rules
The recycling law is the same nationwide, but who to ask and how oversized garbage is booked differ by municipality. IeGo's area pages summarise each city's oversized-garbage fees and how to book, taken from the city's own official page.
Frequently asked questions
Can I put a washing machine out as oversized garbage?
No. Washing machines and clothes dryers, along with air conditioners, TVs and refrigerators/freezers, fall under the Home Appliance Recycling Law, and municipalities don't collect them as oversized garbage.
How much does it cost to dispose of a washing machine?
If a store or operator takes it, you pay the recycling fee plus a collection fee. The recycling fee is set per maker and item, and you can look it up on the Appliance Recycling Ticket Center website. The collection fee is set by whoever takes it. If you drop it off yourself, there's no collection fee.
What if I don't know where I bought it?
Ask your city or ward office: they'll point you to retailers or licensed operators that take it. You can also drop it off at a designated site yourself.
Is it safe to use a "free collection" truck?
Be careful. Collecting household waste requires a municipal licence, and handing it to an unlicensed operator can end in illegal dumping or an unexpected bill. Japan's Ministry of the Environment warns against using unlicensed collectors. Check their licence and that the machine will go through the appliance recycling system.
Can I sell a broken washing machine?
Usually not: shops rarely buy machines that don't work. Dispose of it through the recycling law instead (store take-back, drop-off, or your municipality).
What should I do when I move?
If you're buying a new one for the new home, the store selling it can take the old one. If you're taking it with you, drain it the day before. On IeGo you can book your move and junk removal together.