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We don't really want to install surveillance, but we have to put a stop to littering. It's embarrassing to have tourists and others see the Kamo River littered with garbage.

34 Comments

Sadaaki Sugie, secretary-general of a citizens' group in Kyoto's Nakagyo Ward. The association has installed two security cameras near the west end of the Sanjo Ohashi Bridge to deter people from dumping garbage on the bank of the Kamo River. Littering has increased in the area since around the spring of 2021, when restaurants were asked to close due to the coronavirus pandemic.

© Mainichi Shimbun

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34 Comments
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"Cameras"? Why not just install litter bins, so, um, people have somewhere to put their garbage? Strange question, I know.

Kyoto, as well as Kamakura, are places where the locals are happy to make money off tourists, but don't want to lift a finger to help them out.

15 ( +15 / -0 )

@Wobot .

Could put a bomb in it is one reason maybe.

-6 ( +0 / -6 )

Glad they can't pin this problem on gaijin since this was when almost all travel by foreigners here from overseas was in full effect.

Not only a lack of garbage cans in public and by the river, but also the continual disappearance of them in train stations too.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Cameras won't stop many people.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

They also throw their rubbish from the river banks.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Trash cans would indeed stop the problem and you can use a bit of ingenuity when making them. You can design them to guide people on where they can discard their trash as well as make the bin less visually unappealing.

Here is just one example, but there are many ways of building and designing one.

https://www.reddit.com/r/mildlyinteresting/comments/c8qi5y/this_trash_can_in_japan_designed_to_blend_in_with/

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Trash cans on the bridge won't stop people from throwing their litter over. People eat along the river banks and throw their litter into the river.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Re the removal of rubbish bins -

In my city they were phased out, not so much because of security - terrorist bombs etc - but because people way, way overloaded them.

People treated them as rubbish disposal points and dumped stuff not only in but around them. You know like - "Have Bins, Will dump".

I recall one at a look-out place near my house overflowing, and a huge bag of used adult diapers was left there.

My city said enough is enough, so removed the bins.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Wallace: "Cameras won't stop many people."

Actually, we've all come to learn that if cameras are rolling the Japanese will make a big show of not only picking up their own trash, but yours too, and then talking about how great it all is. So, might work after all. I'm just surprised there is any polluting at all! From what we heard from some posters Japanese NEVER litter.

-1 ( +6 / -7 )

Cameras? To stop littering? Litterers will be delighted to have a wider audience! And they know cameras have no legs to run after to catch them. They think they are beautifying their surroundings. The more enterprising ones even stick chocalate wrapers on to bushes in a public or private garden. The only way to stop them is to install litter policing and, fine them a hundred dollars on the spot. Or imprison them a week for each piece of litter they throw.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

BINS. BINS.BINS. What does the government of Japan not get that this is part of their civic duty?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I remember when there were garbage bins overflowing with people's rubbish. I always take our home. The "tourists" were all Japanese.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Sorry, if I have some small trash, I will put it in the bin at the closest Combini.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Many Combibi's have removed their bins. There is a Lawson next to the bridge but they removed their bins.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Why not just install litter bins, so, um, people have somewhere to put their garbage? Strange question, I know.

I'm not sure that the real problem here is pet bottles and bento boxes. I think the problem may be larger items such as fridges, TVs etc.

I work for a NPO gomi squad around Mt Fuji, and in the past 3 years we have noticed a massive increase in the dumping of large sized domestic & commercial waste. People are willing to drive miles into a forest in order to dump it instead of paying the cost of recycling. It can cost almost 6000 yen to recycle a large fridge in Japan.

A lot of people also don't realize that most items can be disposed of for free at the local recycling center. It's heartbreaking to see fans, oven toasters and microwaves littering the forests when they can be dealt with easily in town.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Many Combibi's have removed their bins. There is a Lawson next to the bridge but they removed their bins.

Didn't they just move them inside the shop? Most conbinis have gone this way, and I don't blame them. They were abused by lots of people.

Lawson now also make you nuke your own bento in the microwaves. Or at least they do around here.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

ClippetyClop

Didn't they just move them inside the shop? Most conbinis have gone this way, and I don't blame them. They were abused by lots of people.

I have not seen that but it would not be hygienic. They have to pay for their garbage removals.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Apologies for 3 posts in short order, but I also want to tell you that our NPO decided to set up trail cameras at several gomi hot spots in the area. In 6 months we caught 37 people dumping various gomi. In one case we caught the local 'Gomi Patrol' car dumping a weeks worth of bentos & drink containers out of his car. When asked why he would do that, he said it was because he knew we were there every year to clean that stretch. He was fired after being made to clear the entire stretch on his day off.

We also caught a truck of workmen who dumped a load of industrial waste on the side of a remote road. They had travelled for about 60km to dump it at that specific spot at the foot of Mt Fuji. They told us that they had been told about that spot by another company they work with who regularly do the same. So we had them both. The first one lost a contract with the town where they were based, the second one fessed up and sent the guys involved to work with us for 4 consecutive weekends.

You may be thinking where are the police in all of this? Well, they help us track down who is doing the dumping but they aren't that bothered in actually treating it as a crime.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I have not seen that but it would not be hygienic. They have to pay for their garbage removals.

Doesn't seem to be a hygiene problem, and I imagine that they are paying far less for its removal now that the locals aren't using to throw away all their crap.

Personal trash disposal is something that a lot of people think is Someone Else's Problem. Littering is one of the ultimate forms of selfishness / immaturity and I'd happily see people punished harshly for doing it.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

ClippetyClop

Personal trash disposal is something that a lot of people think is Someone Else's Problem. Littering is one of the ultimate forms of selfishness/immaturity and I'd happily see people punished harshly for doing it.

I agree 100% on that. I have never done it for more than 50 years. If there isn't a public bin I take it home with me. People picnic along the river with plastic bento boxes, PET bottles, and cans. Previously, before plastic, people brought their own bento boxes and then took them home with them.

On a local level, we have a "big item" rubbish day once a month. Just take it to the collection point.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Previously, before plastic, people brought their own bento boxes and then took them home with them.

A major souce of the problem. Plastic usage is monstrously high in Japan and there is no end in sight for its reduction.

At the end of the day it depends on humans being more personally responsible for what they buy and how they dispose of it. Blaming goverments / Big Industry / Them makes no impact, it's your purchasing that decides what they sell to you.

As an example, in 2020 year I asked my local bento shop (who make really good bentos!) if they would put their food in a bento box provided by me. They reluctantly agreed, and a year later they now offer it as an option to all customers. No discount, but less plastic in the bins. WINNING! (a bit).

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Many Combibi's have removed their bins. There is a Lawson next to the bridge but they removed their bins.

In Fukuoka all of the bins are inside the store.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

It can cost almost 6000 yen to recycle a large fridge in Japan.

A lot of people also don't realize that most items can be disposed of for free at the local recycling center.

This is such an easily solved problem. Simply tack a disposal fee on the purchase price of such items sold, with a partial refund for anyone who disposes of the item. That will completely remove any incentive to dump an item - and even if someone does, another person will pick it up and return it for the disposal fee refund.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Back on topic please.

We don't really want to install surveillance, but we have to put a stop to littering.

wallaceDec. 18  09:51 pm JST

Many Combibi's have removed their bins. There is a Lawson next to the bridge but they removed their bins.

In both cases, they should add streetlights.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

The problem with cameras is how to identify offenders. What punishment they would receive? Public littering.

I guess a small number might stop if they knew there are cameras.

There are areas near the subway station for two large litter bins.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

wallaceToday  02:45 pm JST

The problem with cameras is how to identify offenders. 

Invest in streetlights.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Obsession with street lights. Torchy-Boy. They are more like just dropping their litter here. Some need to grow up.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

They ought to install stadium, then people will clean up their mess like we are always forced to see during big sporting events from overseas.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Streetlights would definitely cure the problem.

Add vending machines too. Brighten up the place.

Even towns in allegedly rural areas are littered with vending machines, streetlights and convenience stores.

It helps the incapacitated elderly find their way to the many hospitals nearby.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

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