What A Load of Rubbish! Part 3: Paper

Trees are our friends. They're majestic, towering giants that stretch towards the sky, their gnarled branches and twisted trunks a testament to their strength and resilience. Their leaves, a vibrant green canopy, sway gently in the breeze, providing shade and shelter for all who seek refuge beneath their boughs. In the fall, they don a kaleidoscope of colours, painting the landscape with a breathtaking display of oranges, reds, and yellows. Through the seasons, they stand steadfast, a symbol of endurance and renewal, reminding us of the beauty and wonder of the natural world.

As always, this is just a general guide on how to recycle your garbage and the information here may not accurately reflect your area's rules for separation or disposal. Always make sure to the follow the instructions provided by the local city or ward office!

Paper (Kami)

The Japanese word for paper is Kami (it is also the word for god/spirit and hair, just so you know) and you'd be forgiven for thinking that you can throw all that paper into one bag and call it a day, but unfortunately it's a little bit more complicated than that. Read below to learn about how and when to recycle paper. 

Kami

First up is the most common of all paper, helpfully referred to as ‘paper’. You'll recognise this type with the KAMI (紙) symbol, similar to the other recyclables in our previous articles such as PURA (plastic) and SUCHIIRU (steel) and should be disposed of in the correct refuse bag for your area, whether it's a designated bag by the city or an unspecified transparent or translucent bag.

Cardboard

A far more likely candidate for recycling would be the inevitable piles of cardboard (or DANBOURU in Japanese) from all those Amazon orders or IKEA furniture. Cardboard is also disposed of in the same way in most cases, so make sure you do buy yourself a ball of string and some scissors! Some larger apartment buildings may have a special area for disposing of cardboard that might not require tying it up with string. Double check the rules of your building and always follow the instructions provided.

Remember that cleanliness is key. Paper that is soiled or has anything other than paper attached to it should not be put in the recycling and should be thrown away with the burnable garbage - keep that in mind! This includes the following: 

• Waterproof paper - paper cups, yoghurt pots, cup noodle containers, oil or wax paper (however note that these may be recycled in your area as long as they are cleaned and dried!)
• Paper with large amounts of ink
• Paper with adhesive substances 
• Dye transfer paper
• Thermosensitive paper - paper with the property of swelling up when heated
• Synthetic paper
• Photographs
• Laminated paper

At Japan Mobility we do our best to reduce paper usage and waste and it is our mission to continue to rely less on printing where other options are available. We encourage all of our customers and readers to actively try to recycle but we understand how frustrating it can be at times! Good luck!