Have you ever been to Japan? It's one of the top countries in the world that people come to visit every year. Interestingly, it's not just the weather or the sites that make Japan a sought after place. The discoveries that travellers make about the cultural practices in the country make every trip more worth it.
However, tourists find it annoying that there are no trash cans in site while they tour around Japan. The reason for this is that Japanese people have been used to the lifestyle that is always on-the-go. This means that they take their snacks with them while they are out while bringing a bag with them so that they are likely to take any trash they generate throughout the day.
Meanwhile, their recycle bins come with two holes: one for cans and the other one for pet bottles (the term they use to refer to plastic bottles), but both holes, when the recycle bin is opened lead to the same container. Tourists usually find these types of recycle bins alongside every vending machine as well as the entrances and exits of supermarkets and convenience stores.
It has always puzzled tourists why such is designed that way and the huge companies have spoken of the truth about the design of these bins.
First, according to the representatives of Coca-Cola, they have been designed as a constant reminder to everyone that they need to learn to segregate their trash. Recyclables need to be in a separate bin from that of general trash.
"Japan has set up the bins labeled with cans and pet bottles to ensure that people won't be throwing anything else there. It is something that people should learn to abide by."
The representatives from DyDo (company behind the favorite Pikachu apple peach drink) had another explanation as to why the recycle bins have two holes.
"Recently, coffeeshops use a larger type of lid for their cups and sometimes, when people throw this in the bin, they get stuck. The improper way of throwish such cups jam the recycle bins. There are two holes to make sure that if one hole gets blocked, there's another one people can through their recyclables through."
What is truly interesting is not the design of the bins or the number of holes, but it is in the desire of the Japanese people to incorporate proper trash disposal into people's daily lives.
