Japan’s Fukushima raises a stink over improper waste disposal, imposes name and shame rule

The Japanese city of Fukushima will take the controversial step of naming and shaming people who fail to separate their trash after encountering many incidents of improper disposal.

With effect from March, rubbish collectors will attach a red “warning sticker” on any semi-transparent bags used for household waste when they detect that trash has not been separated correctly.

If violators have not retrieved their waste and separated it properly for collection within one week, municipal workers will confiscate the bags affixed with the stickers and rummage through them in search of documents – such as mail – to identify the errant individuals, who will be given a verbal warning.

Should the same individuals break the rules again, they will receive a written warning and a final chance to mend their ways. Failure to meet the appropriate standards set by the Fukushima municipal authorities once again will result in the city publishing the offenders’ names on its website as serial offenders.

“While most citizens understand the rules for sorting garbage, there are a few who think it is acceptable to not follow the rules occasionally, which ends up inconveniencing the majority who follow the rules,” said Hiroshi Nemoto of the city’s unit in charge of waste reduction promotion.

“Some people find sorting garbage cumbersome or do not have the time to do it because they are busy,” he told This Week in Asia. “To correct this situation, we have amended the ordinance.”