Home Appliance Recycling Guide — TVs, Refrigerators, Washers, ACs

Summary

TVs, refrigerators, washing machines, and air conditioners cannot be put out as regular (or bulky) household garbage in Japan. They are covered by the Home Appliance Recycling Law, which assigns the recycling responsibility to the manufacturer.
The main disposal routes are retailer pickup at replacement, original retailer pickup, drop-off at a designated collection point, municipal pickup-on-request, junk removal services, and resale or give-away when still working.
The cost is generally the recycling fee (set by the manufacturer per model) plus a collection/transport fee (set by whoever picks up the item). The total varies by route.

What is the Home Appliance Recycling Law?

The Home Appliance Recycling Law took effect in 2001. Households pay the recycling cost when discarding the four covered items, retailers collect them, and manufacturers handle recycling. Municipal bulky trash collection generally does not accept these items.

For authoritative information:

Home Appliance Recycling Ticket Center (RKC) — fee tables, drop-off locator
METI overview of the Home Appliance Recycling Law

The four covered items

Recycling fees vary by manufacturer, model, and size. The table below shows the publicly cited typical ranges (tax incl.); check the exact fee for your model number at the RKC site.

Item	Recycling fee (typical, tax incl.)	Notes
TV (LCD / Plasma)	¥1,870–3,700	Tier by screen size
TV (CRT)	¥1,320–3,700	Tier by screen size
Refrigerator / Freezer	¥3,740–4,730	Tier by capacity (≤170 L vs >170 L)
Washing machine / Clothes dryer	¥2,530	Same fee for drum and top-load
Air conditioner	¥990	Indoor + outdoor unit set

A separate collection / transport fee (typically ¥1,000–3,000) is charged by most pickup options. Drop-off at a designated collection point waives this transport fee.

TV

Usually covered: home-use LCD, plasma, and CRT televisions.
Usually not covered: PC monitors, commercial-grade displays, in-vehicle TVs.
Watch out: TVs with built-in recorders are still treated as TVs. Ask the retailer or collection point how to hand off the remote, cables, and B-CAS card.

Refrigerator / Freezer

Usually covered: home-use refrigerators and freezers regardless of capacity or cooling method.
Usually not covered: commercial fridges, wine coolers, and some specialty cabinets (confirm with the retailer first).
Watch out: CFCs (refrigerant) must be handled correctly. Do not self-dismantle and do not hand off to unlicensed collectors. Empty contents and let it defrost / drain before pickup.

Washing machine / Clothes dryer

Usually covered: home-use top-load and twin-tub washers, drum-type washer-dryers, standalone clothes dryers.
Usually not covered: commercial washing machines, coin-laundry equipment.
Watch out: drain residual water and detach hoses before pickup. Confirm hose handling with the retailer or collection point.

Air conditioner

Usually covered: home-use wall- or floor-mounted ACs (indoor + outdoor unit).
Usually not covered: commercial ACs, vehicle ACs, some window-type units (confirm first).
Watch out: removal requires installation work. Do not remove it yourself; refrigerant leakage and electrical hazards are real risks. Use a qualified installer. The removal fee is separate from the recycling fee.

Comparison of disposal methods

Method	Best for	Cost basis	Things to note
Retailer pickup at replacement	People buying a new appliance	Recycling fee + transport fee (varies by store)	Usually the most convenient — delivery and pickup are bundled
Original retailer pickup	People who know where they bought it	Recycling fee + transport fee (varies by store)	Not always available after a move or store closure
Drop-off at designated collection point	People who can transport it themselves	Recycling fee only (no transport fee)	Buy the recycling voucher at a post office first; locate the nearest point here
Municipal pickup-on-request	People without a retailer or transport	Recycling fee + municipal handling fee	Availability, application route, and fee differ by city
Junk removal service	People discarding many items at once	Often a single quote that includes the recycling fee	Use only operators with a general waste collection / transport license. Unlicensed operators are illegal
Resale or give-away (still working)	Items only a few years old in good condition	Possibly net positive (you receive money)	Quote depends on age, condition, and accessories. For give-aways, prefer in-person platforms

City-by-city differences matter

The four covered items follow nationwide rules, but the entry point for disposal differs by municipality. In particular:

Whether the city offers a pickup-on-request service at all
Application route (environmental section / waste office / dedicated call center)
The amount of any municipal handling fee added on top of the recycling fee
Local guidance on the nearest designated collection points

Check our city pages for the disposal entry point in your municipality.

Featured cities (coming soon)

We will progressively add direct links to the appliance-recycling pages of major cities (designated cities, core cities, etc.) here.

Beware of unlicensed junk removers

Before requesting service, confirm:

✅ The operator’s general waste collection / transport license number on their website
✅ The list of licensed operators on your city’s website (waste-management section)
✅ A written estimate with extra-charge terms spelled out
✅ Do not show your items or accept a verbal pitch from roadside / curbside operators advertising “free”

Reference: MOE — Notice before using a junk removal operator (Japanese)

Bulky Trash Disposal — Complete Guide — Microwaves, vacuums, and other appliances outside the four covered items
Moving — Garbage Disposal Guide — Scheduling appliance disposal during moves
How to Safely Dispose of Dangerous Garbage — Batteries, fluorescent lamps, small-appliance parts