Recyclable Waste (資源ゴミ - Shigen Gomi)
The 'recyclable resources' category, covering aluminum/steel cans, glass bottles, PET plastic bottles, and paper items like cardboard, newspapers, and magazines. They are treated as valuable resources, not waste.
Due to Japan's lack of natural mineral resources, the country built a world-class recycling loop in the 1990s. This created strict citizen sorting habits that ensure recycled goods are highly pure and easily processed.
Rinse empty cans and glass bottles with water before placing them in the colored nets or boxes at your garbage station. Cardboards must be collapsed flat and tied with a string.
What is the crucial initial action to take before throwing away cans or glass bottles as recycling?