Fukuoka Citizens Gripe That Night Garbage Collectors Are Taking Breaks
It’s part of a trend of customer complaints in Japan about “lazy workers” — and it’s making it harder for the city to fill positions.
By Francesca Annio
Some people sleep at night, while others work. Certain jobs shine when the city is quiet, and in Fukuoka, garbage collection is one of them. Traditionally a daytime task in Japan, Fukuoka shifted it to nighttime, making it easier for workers to navigate the empty streets.
However, this clever solution now faces a new problem — there aren’t enough workers to keep it going. In addition, citizen complaints about workers “slacking” on the job are rising — and could hamper efforts to hire the people needed to keep it going.
Facing scrutiny
Fukuoka is unique in Japan for collecting household garbage at night, a practice dating back to the 1950s with around 98% citizen approval. Why? The benefits are clear: nighttime collections help deter criminal activities, allow garbage collectors to work without the hassle of daily traffic, and keep the streets free of trash in the early morning, which discourages…
