Garbage disposal in Japan works not simply because of strict rules, but because it functions as a shared social system. Japan’s famously clean streets are not maintained by constant enforcement or punishment. Instead, they are supported by an everyday system that quietly coordinates individual behavior, community trust, and urban life. This article explains why garbage disposal in Japan works as a social system—and why it can feel so difficult for outsiders to understand. Garbage Disposal as Invisible Infrastructure In many countries, garbage is treated as a purely personal matter. You throw it away, and the system handles the rest. ...
