An increasing number of people are bringing their domestic waste directly to Numanohata Clean Center, a waste treatment facility in Tomakomai, Hokkaido, apparently due to the COVID-19 pandemic forcing them to spend more time at home and motivating them to tidy up.
The number of vehicles coming to the facility reached a record high in May, with the site charging only ¥140 to dispose of 10 kilograms of unnecessary items. However, the wait can last two hours, so the city has asked its citizens to visit in the morning or evening to avoid congestion.
Usually, Numanohata Clean Center sees about 100 vehicles a day. However, according to the city, the number of vehicles grew 37 percent to 4,624 in May compared with the same period the previous year, while April saw a 14 percent year-on-year increase.