Japan Waste Disposal Guide Gomi-Sutekata
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· Warning

Sendai City: Warning About Garbage Truck Fires Caused by Improper Disposal of Lighters and Lithium-Ion Batteries

Summary

Multiple garbage truck fires have occurred in Sendai City (仙台市) caused by the improper disposal of lighters and lithium-ion batteries. Sendai City’s official notice is urging residents to follow correct sorting and disposal procedures.

Key Points from the Official Notice

  • According to Sendai City’s official notice, incidents have occurred where lighters mixed into designated household garbage bags ignited when the collection truck compressed the bags, triggering the ignition mechanism and causing fires.
  • According to the official notice, lighters must be fully emptied of gas, thoroughly soaked in water, and then placed in a designated household garbage bag. If disposing of multiple lighters, put them out in batches of two or three over several collection days.
  • According to the official notice, small rechargeable batteries such as lithium-ion batteries cannot be placed in designated household garbage bags. They must be put in a clear bag and placed in the yellow collection container on the collection day for “cans, bottles, PET bottles, and used dry batteries.”
  • According to the official notice, products covered by this rule include mobile batteries, mobile phones, smartphones, laptop computers, wireless earphones, cordless vacuum cleaners, heated tobacco devices, and electric shavers.

What Users Should Check

  • Fully empty lighters of gas, soak them thoroughly in water, and then place them in a designated household garbage bag.
  • Products containing small rechargeable batteries — such as smartphones and cordless vacuum cleaners — must be placed in a clear bag and put in the yellow collection container on the “cans, bottles, PET bottles, and used dry batteries” collection day.
  • Improper disposal can lead to serious accidents that put collection workers at risk. Please review the correct sorting method in the official notice.

For the most current and accurate information, always check the official page.

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