G7 Summit Shuts Down Garbage Cans Across Japan

Ahead of the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, train users discovered garbage cans and coin lockers shut down even hundreds of kilometers away.

By Jay Allen

In the aftermath of a high-profile political assassination attempt, it’s understandable Japan would increase security. It makes even more sense to clamp down on security with several prominent world leaders visiting Hiroshima for the G7 Summit.

But reports say that police are implementing security measures hundreds of miles away from the event. And it made it harder than ever this weekend for people to toss their trash and stow their luggage.

Japan’s rapidly disappearing garbage cans

If you live in a large city in Japan, you’re likely to notice there aren’t a lot of places to dump your trash. In Tokyo in particular, public garbage cans are a rare sighting. It’s easiest to find one in a convenience store. Otherwise, your best bet when buying something from a combini for consumption on the go is to ask for a plastic bag to hold the waste.

You’re a lot more likely to find garbage bins dedicated to plastic bottle and can waste. You’ll find these mostly next to vending machines…