Vexed by rampant thefts of used paper, many local governments have tightened patrols of trash-collection sites and have issued new regulations claiming ownership of discarded newspapers, magazines and other printed matter.
In Moriya, Ibaraki Prefecture, municipal officials patrol all local trash-collection sites early in the morning on every garbage-collection day.
The patrols were started after newspapers and other recyclable printed matter began to vanish two years ago.