[wenc]

Trick: there is almost always a garbage can next to a vending machine, and there are many vending machines in Japan.

Caveat: some of those garbage cans are for can recycling only. But there is often another one for garbage like food wrappers.

[mitthrowaway2]

In my recent experience it's very rare to find anything other than recycling bins next to vending machines in Japan.

Buying a snack really is a big commitment, which is unfortunate because of how tasty they are.

[presentation]

That said the inverse problem in the USA is that there are practically no public toilets and if you find one it’s probably disgusting. I find that a much bigger inconvenience than needing to carry some garbage around!

[mitthrowaway2]

I fully agree.

Interestingly they have similar dynamics: due to the scarcity of that public resource, the cost of providing it becomes very high, which causes it to become more scarce. In the US, a business providing a public washroom has to deal with very heavy usage, because of how rare they are, which makes maintenance expensive. They become the bathroom for the whole neighborhood. In Japan, businesses can offer clean high quality washrooms at little cost because there are many others sharing the load. But a convenience store offering a garbage bin in a popular area will quickly find it overloaded.

This creates a feedback loop where scarcity drives further scarcity.

[ghfhghg]

Absolutely. I'd much prefer to carry around my trash rather than have toilet anxiety in a heartbeat.

The end result is in North America I tend to just urinate in a back alley because I'm fed up trying to find an appropriate place.