Garbage is inseparably linked to our daily lives, such as household waste and plastic waste from households, and the large amounts of garbage produced by businesses.
Most household waste is separated according to methods set by local governments, placed in large garbage bags, and taken to collection centers on the designated garbage collection day.
The designated garbage bag system is currently being implemented in a number of municipalities across the country, including Nagareyama City and Nishinomiya City.
Many people may be confused because their local government has introduced the system, or because the place they are moving to has already introduced it.
We will answer questions such as "What is the designated garbage bag system?" and "Where can I buy designated garbage bags?" and introduce a more convenient way to purchase designated garbage bags.
What is the designated garbage bag system?
The designated garbage bag system is a system in which residents must purchase garbage bags designated by the local government, mainly from retailers, put their garbage in those bags, and then take them out for collection by the local government.
Interest in garbage bags has been growing since the 1990s.
In order to raise awareness of the environment and prevent the disposal of hazardous materials, Tokyo began recommending the use of translucent garbage bags in 1993, and many local governments across the country have also begun to recommend translucent garbage bags.
Furthermore, some local governments, such as Fukui City in Fukui Prefecture, introduced designated garbage bags as early as 1997.
Nowadays, awareness of environmental protection is increasing, and attitudes towards plastic waste in particular are changing.
Since the start of the Reiwa era, designated garbage bag systems have been introduced in various areas, such as Nagareyama City and Nishinomiya City, and awareness of the system is increasing.
Now let's take a look at the significance of designated garbage bags and the differences in their names.
Why do we have designated garbage bags?
The designated garbage bag system is a system in which you purchase and use official garbage bags designated by local governments.
If you put out your garbage in bags other than those specified by the local government, it will not be collected.
Therefore, you will need to purchase and use garbage bags designated by your local government.
So why was the designated garbage bag system created?
The designated garbage bag system is a system based on the provisions of Article 5-2, Paragraph 1 of the national Waste Disposal and Public Cleansing Law.
In addition, this is being implemented according to the "Basic Policy for the Comprehensive and Planned Promotion of Measures Concerning the Reduction of Waste and Other Appropriate Disposal of Waste" established by the Ministry of the Environment in accordance with the above law.
The Ministry of the Environment's basic policy stipulates that local governments should "understand the amount of waste," "take measures to reduce waste," and "recycle waste."
The garbage problem continues to grow not only in Japan but all over the world.
The designated garbage bag system was created as a result of the national government and the Ministry of the Environment calling on local governments to identify, reduce, and recycle waste.
Around the world, it is becoming increasingly apparent that increased carbon dioxide emissions, including from the burning of garbage, are contributing to global warming.
More recently, we have come to understand in detail how marine litter, including plastic, poses a threat to the marine ecosystem.
As people's understanding of the environment deepens and awareness of environmental conservation rises, an increasing number of local governments are introducing designated garbage bag systems as a first step toward changing everyday garbage disposal practices.
One way to grasp the amount of garbage and reduce it is to collect garbage using garbage bags, for which there is a fee.
In addition, having each household and business thoroughly separate waste will also help with recycling.
In order to protect the global environment and prevent disasters and environmental destruction, the national government and the Ministry of the Environment called on local governments to identify, reduce, and recycle waste, and so the designated garbage bag system was born.
Differences in names of designated garbage bags by local governments
The designated garbage bag system is a system that charges for garbage disposal itself.Designated paid garbage bag system" and purchasing designated garbage bags with specifications set by local governments.Simple designated garbage bag system" can be divided into:
The designated garbage bag system is called various names depending on the municipality and region.
Both systems are the same, so if you are unsure, please contact the office of your local government.
Differences in names
- Designated bag system
- Designated garbage bag collection system
- Designated collection bag system
- Paid bag system
- Simple designated bag system
- Other
Municipalities that have implemented the designated garbage bag system
How many municipalities currently have designated garbage bag systems in place?
In fact, the designated garbage bag system has not yet started in Tokyo's 23 wards (businesses are required to purchase a sticker for a fee and affix it when disposing of garbage).
Each household purchases and uses translucent garbage bags, and can dispose of garbage at a lower price than in municipalities that have a designated garbage bag system.
Now let's look at the whole country.
The Environment Agency is conducting a nationwide survey on the designated garbage bag system in 2020.
According to the survey, 1,403 local governments responded that they were already implementing such measures.
As of 2022, there are 1,718 municipalities nationwide, with 1,403 cases accounting for 82.6%.
You can see that it has been introduced in quite a number of municipalities.
In addition, some municipalities have decided to introduce the system in the future, so the percentage is likely to increase further.
reference:Guidelines for the introduction of garbage bags made from bioplastics, etc. in local governments Ministry of the Environment
Is it true that the price of designated garbage bags varies depending on the municipality?
Designated garbage bags are being promoted nationwide to reduce waste, promote waste sorting, and reduce and recycle waste for the sake of environmental conservation in Japan and around the world.
Designated garbage bags can be purchased at a variety of retailers, including local supermarkets, home improvement centers, and drug stores, but prices vary greatly depending on the store.
In some areas, when comparing retail stores, the difference in prices was several times larger.
Designated garbage bags are determined by local governments, but there can be a big difference in price for the same size product between local governments that pass on waste disposal costs to the sales price (paid designated garbage bag system) and those that do not (simple designated garbage bag system).
The selling prices of designated garbage bags sold in municipalities that have implemented a paid designated garbage bag system are often determined by the municipality, and the selling price at retail stores is the same everywhere.
There are two patterns for the simple designated garbage bag system: one where the local government procures the bags, and the other where the local government decides on the standards, certifies the manufacturers, and sells them freely. When the local government procures the bags, the sales price is decided, and when the local government certifies the manufacturers and sells them freely, retailers can decide the sales price.
Garbage bags manufactured by certified manufacturers under the Simple Designated Garbage Bag System and sold freely are called "certified designated garbage bags." Prices are left to the discretion of each retailer, so knowing how to purchase them more cheaply can help you save a lot each year.
At Japan Packs, we handle certified garbage bags from all over the country.
At Japan Packs, we carry certified garbage bags from all over the country.
Now, let us introduce you to the certified designated garbage bags that Japanax carries.
Certified designated garbage bags sold by Japacks
At Japan Pack, we carry garbage bags certified by approximately 80 municipalities across the country, which are designated and recommended by the municipality.
There are bins for household waste and for business waste (only in some municipalities), and there are a wide variety of types, including bins for burnable waste, non-burnable waste, plastic waste, and bins with handles.
Supports newly introduced municipalities such as Nagareyama City and Nishinomiya City
At Japacks, we also carry certified designated garbage bags from municipalities such as Nagareyama-shi and Nishinomiya-shi that introduced a new designated garbage bag system in 2022 (Reiwa 4).
We also stock products that comply with the Green Purchasing Law.
At Japan Packs, we also carry products that comply with the Green Purchasing Act (Act on the Promotion of Procurement of Environmental Goods, etc. by the State and Other Entities).
The Green Purchasing Law is a law established as part of the Basic Law for Promoting the Creation of a Recycling-Based Society, which was enacted in 2000.
As a law aimed at creating a circular society and protecting limited resources by using renewable materials, it remains at the core of various environmentally friendly systems, including the Eco Mark.
The Eco Mark was established based on more comprehensive criteria than those stipulated in the Green Purchasing Law, so in principle, Eco Mark certified products also comply with the Green Purchasing Law.
The SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) have only recently begun to attract attention, but efforts toward a renewable future have actually been underway for over 20 years.
Available at Japacksグリーン購入法適合商品meets the following conformity criteria:
- recycled plastic40% or more
- biomass(Plant-based) plastic: 25% or more
They are translucent and come in a variety of convenient sizes, including 30L, 45L, and 75L.
If your local government has not yet implemented a designated garbage bag system, why not consider using garbage bags that comply with the Green Purchasing Law?
To protect Japan's nature, the global environment, and our children's future, let's take the first step at home and with our families, before our local governments do!
Take a step to protect the global environment and our children's future with Japan Pack's designated garbage bags
Designated garbage bags, which are being increasingly introduced by local governments across Japan, were adopted in order to grasp the amount of garbage and its sorting status, and to reduce the amount of garbage generated.
However, using designated garbage bags leads to a reduction in the amount of garbage generated.
Reducing waste, carbon dioxide emissions, and marine plastic pollution will surely help protect the Earth tomorrow, in the future, and 100 years from now.
We want to protect this Earth, colored by greenery and water, until our children grow up healthy and are able to raise their children.
Another important issue is protecting our lives from the abnormally hot weather and storms that strike almost every year as a result of global warming.
The designated garbage bag system, established to protect the global environment and Japan's climate, may be a small step.
But if you take a step, you will definitely get closer to your goal.
Let's start supporting nature and the future by doing what we can with Japanax, which is committed to environmental conservation.
