On Air: Fukuoka City Information/2013.12.14(Sat)/09:00～

December is a month that sees a lot of cleaning and along with it, a lot of trash, and so, December is Illegal Trash Dumping Prevention Month in Fukuoka City. Efforts are stepped up to oversee appropriate refuse disposal, as well as to stop inappropriate refuse disposal.

“Illegal trash disposal” occurs when oversized-garbage, household garbage, or industrial waste is dumped in mountain forests, along shorelines, river banks, roads, or in parks. If offenders are caught by the police, they will be punished under law. If you witness illegal dumpers, or find illegally dumped refuse, contact your nearest police station or the Living Environment Section or Industrial Waste Advisory Section of your local ward office. A reward may also be received if information you provide leads to the apprehension of those disposing refuse illegally.

Televisions, refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, clothes dryers, and air conditioners should be disposed of in accordance with the Home Appliance Recycling Law. Have old electronics taken up for disposal by the store at which you are buying a replacement model, or take them to the retail store from which you purchased them for proper disposal. If throwing out computers, please ask for disposal assistance from the producer of the device.

When disposing of household electronics or furnishings other than these six items and computers, please use the Oversized Garbage Disposal Call Center. When using this service, it is necessary to call and make an appointment for disposal in advance. After you call them, you will then have to purchase disposal tickets at a convenience store or other such processing location for the amount you were quoted by the center. You should affix these tickets to the items which you wish to have disposed, and place them out for pick up at the designated time and place. You can call them at 092-731-1153. Appointments can be made between 9 AM and 5 PM Monday through Saturday.

Also, please be aware that there have been cases of inappropriate garbage disposal taking place at open lot locations that claim to dispose of household electronics and other refuse. These areas are not normal garbage collection sites. Problem cases have also been occurring with services advertised on flyers. Although the advertisements state, "free garbage disposal" they may in fact charge for services. Please be safe and avoid problems by following Fukuoka City’s rules for proper garbage disposal.

For further information, please call the Industrial Waste Advisory Section of city government at 092-711-4303.

The end of the year will see a lot of waste which people need to dispose. Let's work together and do it properly.