10- 15 years ago, nobody mentioned about it. Now last 5 years or so, tourists and gaijins have been complaining, this and that! Japan is slowly being soft over their needs. Why Japan has to follow their words?
Cons of trash bins
Traffic congestion around at peak time (at the time pick up) (I see UK)
Noise disturbance (drunkards and teenage smokers around) (I see UK again)
Littering full of bins, trashes here and there, environmental issues (esp. Surrounding areas) (Another UK problem)
Look at the countryside or small town, ever needed such thing? But still clean (even if there are fewer people but there are people)
One person throws/put the beer bottle (Not can, bottle i mean) nearby the trash bin, another person does the same. Dangerous for kids nearby and even for animals who might just lick the broken glass.
Extra budget or your tax is needed then to get rid of.
Pros of trash bins
Convenient for you Only when it's not full or at the time when you need it. That's the only one. It's just for yourself in the end, huh! Too selfish, my friend.
So it is better for you to see people carrying around their cans and waste paper? Perhaps people should have clear plastic bags so you can see them better.
10- 15 years ago, nobody mentioned about it. Now last 5 years or so, tourists and gaijins have been complaining, this and that! Japan is slowly being soft over their needs. Why Japan has to follow their words?
Well, for one reason, Japan needs tourists now more than ever. Blame not having enough immigrants to keep the economy functional.
Cons of trash bins
Traffic congestion around at peak time (at the time pick up) (I see UK)
I suspect most of the cans in question could be serviced by people on foot.
Noise disturbance (drunkards and teenage smokers around) (I see UK again)
Solve the problem of the drunkards and the smokers. I assume drunkards don't hang around trash cans unless they are planning to throw up into them.
Littering full of bins, trashes here and there, environmental issues (esp. Surrounding areas) (Another UK problem)
So empty them. What's even more of an environmental issue is when people just toss it because you left them no choice.
Look at the countryside or small town, ever needed such thing? But still clean (even if there are fewer people but there are people)
Uh, yeah, if you have no people you don't need trash cans. The areas being complained about are not in that category.
One person throws/put the beer bottle (Not can, bottle i mean) nearby the trash bin, another person does the same. Dangerous for kids nearby and even for animals who might just lick the broken glass.
People generally get them in the bin if it isn't full. If you were worried about the broken glass, you wouldn't want people just chucking them wherever because there was no trash can.
Extra budget or your tax is needed then to get rid of.
It's also a job. Normal countries make this happen.
Pros of trash bins
Convenient for you Only when it's not full or at the time when you need it. That's the only one. It's just for yourself in the end, huh! Too selfish, my friend.
Yes, by definition, a trash can is there for those that use it. Economics is all about making sure demands are met to keep people happy, and you do want happy tourists spending their money. Sticking your nose up and saying that trash cans are unsightly is shortsighted, especially considering what goes in them.
So that everyone can dump their rubbish on beaches or on the dividing strip with small bushes between oncoming lanes at traffic lights. No, Peter Neil is right. Some of us were around then. Tero Taisaku is also a way to keep people afraid and missing bins remind us.
It's a massive inconvenience. The reason is mainly lack of concern and energy among Japan's local authorities. If they cite funding, then the govt should hit producers of bento styrofoam and other packaging with a "litter collection tax" and use the revenue to collect and treat the mountains of garbage these companies produce.
Yes - the terror fear of past was one of the big reasons for their removal esp in high foot traffic areas in big cities.
In my city the Big reason was as others indicated, to stop people using them as a dumping site.
The city govt publicly said such at that time.
First were the central train stations, followed by the shopping districts and finally general street areas.
It was common years ago to see literally mountains of garbage stuffed in and dumped around small public rubbish receptacles. People who have been here long enough would have witnessed that.
Now the open area / streets are largely free of rubbish.
But just a bit out of sight places are still used to dump stuff.
Cemetry near my house has a caged trash area for mourners / visitors to place old flowers, paper offerings etc, I guess as a service to them.
It is constantly used by "others" to dump trash as they know the city will pick it up as part of their monthly rounds.
So in my city it seems if you have a specialized rubbish place / receptacle, it will soon be fouled by irresponsible people - which is why the bins and cans have all but gone.
When they removed them from our part of Tokyo the local council said it was because people were dumping their domestic waste in them and it is true that you used to see them in the parks overflowing with household waste, particularly at New Year and Obon. Now that many areas charge for trash collection, I am sure that a lot more people would take advantage of them for this purpose and so I don't really see much chance of them coming back.
It was passed off as being an anti-terror thing. So many terrorists were planting bombs in trash cans in Japan. (eye roll)
It was just after the Sarin episode. All you could see on TV from morning to night was "experts" talking about Aum Shinrikyo and just about any religion or cult imaginable, including yoga!
They warned that these bloodthirsty and dangerous cults would fill the trash cans with poison gasses and used this as an excuse to take out the trash cans and quit public garbage collection.
They really wanted to cut a few of the lowest paid people emptying trash to save a little money, and call it restructuring.
Bring back the much-needed trash bins. Educate the public not to dump their household waste with yet another "chara cutie" campaign. Done. Everyone happy and Japan joins the freaking first world.
Solve the problem of the drunkards and the smokers. I assume drunkards don't hang around trash cans unless they are planning to throw up into them.
Not that I follow drunks around to see where they puke, but I don’t think they search for a trash bin to upchuck in. When it’s got to come out, they’ll spew anywhere.
Same mentality as with the masks - they associated the bins with something scary (in this case, I think it was an act of terrorism?) and so they did away with all the bins and that was that. No thought to revise the decision or adjust to suit current situations and needs. I wonder if they realize how absurd and mental the "take your rubbish home with you!" signs are.
It is the result of learnt behavior. Japanese are indoctrinated as soon has they enter elementary schools. Pupil are responsible for the cleanliness of the school from daily cleaning of the floors. Also there a point of refuge for garbage at 99 % of convenience stores. This is ingrained into Japanese society hence the assume lack of public garbage bins are only needed for public travel trains bus etc but these also are well facilitated with convenience stores at major stops. I have never had an issue with depositing of my litter in Japan. But Even living in Australia, I have always carry on garbage with me until I can offload it correctly.
13 Comments
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BackpackingNepal
Your trash, your responsible
10- 15 years ago, nobody mentioned about it. Now last 5 years or so, tourists and gaijins have been complaining, this and that! Japan is slowly being soft over their needs. Why Japan has to follow their words?
Cons of trash bins
Traffic congestion around at peak time (at the time pick up) (I see UK)
Noise disturbance (drunkards and teenage smokers around) (I see UK again)
Littering full of bins, trashes here and there, environmental issues (esp. Surrounding areas) (Another UK problem)
Look at the countryside or small town, ever needed such thing? But still clean (even if there are fewer people but there are people)
One person throws/put the beer bottle (Not can, bottle i mean) nearby the trash bin, another person does the same. Dangerous for kids nearby and even for animals who might just lick the broken glass.
Extra budget or your tax is needed then to get rid of.Pros of trash bins
Convenient for you Only when it's not full or at the time when you need it. That's the only one. It's just for yourself in the end, huh! Too selfish, my friend.TaiwanIsNotChina
So it is better for you to see people carrying around their cans and waste paper? Perhaps people should have clear plastic bags so you can see them better.
Well, for one reason, Japan needs tourists now more than ever. Blame not having enough immigrants to keep the economy functional.
Cons of trash bins
I suspect most of the cans in question could be serviced by people on foot.
Solve the problem of the drunkards and the smokers. I assume drunkards don't hang around trash cans unless they are planning to throw up into them.
So empty them. What's even more of an environmental issue is when people just toss it because you left them no choice.
Uh, yeah, if you have no people you don't need trash cans. The areas being complained about are not in that category.
People generally get them in the bin if it isn't full. If you were worried about the broken glass, you wouldn't want people just chucking them wherever because there was no trash can.
It's also a job. Normal countries make this happen.
Pros of trash bins
Yes, by definition, a trash can is there for those that use it. Economics is all about making sure demands are met to keep people happy, and you do want happy tourists spending their money. Sticking your nose up and saying that trash cans are unsightly is shortsighted, especially considering what goes in them.
Peter Neil
It was passed off as being an anti-terror thing. So many terrorists were planting bombs in trash cans in Japan. (eye roll)
They really wanted to cut a few of the lowest paid people emptying trash to save a little money, and call it restructuring.
Moonraker
So that everyone can dump their rubbish on beaches or on the dividing strip with small bushes between oncoming lanes at traffic lights. No, Peter Neil is right. Some of us were around then. Tero Taisaku is also a way to keep people afraid and missing bins remind us.
JeffLee
It's a massive inconvenience. The reason is mainly lack of concern and energy among Japan's local authorities. If they cite funding, then the govt should hit producers of bento styrofoam and other packaging with a "litter collection tax" and use the revenue to collect and treat the mountains of garbage these companies produce.
browny1
Yes - the terror fear of past was one of the big reasons for their removal esp in high foot traffic areas in big cities.
In my city the Big reason was as others indicated, to stop people using them as a dumping site.
The city govt publicly said such at that time.
First were the central train stations, followed by the shopping districts and finally general street areas.
It was common years ago to see literally mountains of garbage stuffed in and dumped around small public rubbish receptacles. People who have been here long enough would have witnessed that.
Now the open area / streets are largely free of rubbish.
But just a bit out of sight places are still used to dump stuff.
Cemetry near my house has a caged trash area for mourners / visitors to place old flowers, paper offerings etc, I guess as a service to them.
It is constantly used by "others" to dump trash as they know the city will pick it up as part of their monthly rounds.
So in my city it seems if you have a specialized rubbish place / receptacle, it will soon be fouled by irresponsible people - which is why the bins and cans have all but gone.
Hello Kitty 321
When they removed them from our part of Tokyo the local council said it was because people were dumping their domestic waste in them and it is true that you used to see them in the parks overflowing with household waste, particularly at New Year and Obon. Now that many areas charge for trash collection, I am sure that a lot more people would take advantage of them for this purpose and so I don't really see much chance of them coming back.
BertieWooster
Spot on, Peter:
It was just after the Sarin episode. All you could see on TV from morning to night was "experts" talking about Aum Shinrikyo and just about any religion or cult imaginable, including yoga!
They warned that these bloodthirsty and dangerous cults would fill the trash cans with poison gasses and used this as an excuse to take out the trash cans and quit public garbage collection.
Exactly!
Patricia Yarrow
Bring back the much-needed trash bins. Educate the public not to dump their household waste with yet another "chara cutie" campaign. Done. Everyone happy and Japan joins the freaking first world.
Anonymous
Not that I follow drunks around to see where they puke, but I don’t think they search for a trash bin to upchuck in. When it’s got to come out, they’ll spew anywhere.
purple_depressed_bacon
Same mentality as with the masks - they associated the bins with something scary (in this case, I think it was an act of terrorism?) and so they did away with all the bins and that was that. No thought to revise the decision or adjust to suit current situations and needs. I wonder if they realize how absurd and mental the "take your rubbish home with you!" signs are.
John-San
It is the result of learnt behavior. Japanese are indoctrinated as soon has they enter elementary schools. Pupil are responsible for the cleanliness of the school from daily cleaning of the floors. Also there a point of refuge for garbage at 99 % of convenience stores. This is ingrained into Japanese society hence the assume lack of public garbage bins are only needed for public travel trains bus etc but these also are well facilitated with convenience stores at major stops. I have never had an issue with depositing of my litter in Japan. But Even living in Australia, I have always carry on garbage with me until I can offload it correctly.
Garthgoyle
Fear mongering and as Odakyu and other train lines have done recently, to save money.