数年前、私が暮らしている街の一角にゴミが散乱しているビルがあるのに気が付きました。
中流の少し気軽な層のマンションなんですが、其処だけ盛大に散らかっていたので、たまに通る度、気になっていました。
気になっていた理由は、割れ窓理論からです。
環境が散らかると治安が悪化する、という理論なんですが。
実際、環境にゴミが散乱していたり暴力的なイメージしか受け渡さない区画は荒廃しています。
この辺りは窓が割れているのが普通です。というメッセージを放つ散らかり方は、心理的に常識を守らなくても良い、という判断がし易くなると、私もこの割れ窓理論に強く共感しています。
なので近隣を歩く時、道に落ちているゴミが増えていると、夜の外出は控えるようにしています。
これは仲々有効で、私はこの判断に結構助けられています。
当時、気になってそっとビルの入り口を覗いてみても、理由は分かりませんでした。
ゴミ捨て場には強い注意書きが既にあり、悪意だけで世の中を見ている人物でない限り、そういう捨て方を数人が同時に続けているとは思えませんでした。
ふと、ここには海外の方が多く住まれているのではないか? と思い、
ゴミの捨て方そのものが分からないのではないか。
ゴミ捨ての日時や分別方法がよく分かっていないのではないか?
と見当を着けていました。
一ヶ月程様子を見ていても改善されておらず、私の住む街のゴミの捨て方ポスターを区役所の公式からダウンロードし、グーグル翻訳で各国の言語に翻訳したポスターを自作し、貼っても良いですか? と管理会社に許可を貰おうち思い検索すると、既に各国の言語で捨て方が用意してあったので、自分の思い込みが恥ずかしくなって止めてしまいました。
数年後、ふと其の事を思い出して前を通ると、散乱していたゴミは片付いていました。
兎に角ゴミの捨て方が分からなかったか、
指定日の夕方から夜までにゴミを出し、あまり前日には出さない方が良い、というルールを守りたく無い人達が大挙して引っ越したのだろうか?
と思いながらビルの入り口を見ると、各国の言語の捨て方のポスターが貼ってありました。
つまり解決していました。
これでゴミ捨て場の散乱問題とゴミ捨ての曜日・捨て方ルールを守らないトラブルが、100%解決するとは思えませんが、
おそらく殆どのゴミの捨て方トラブルは、そもそも言葉が分からない為、ゴミ捨てのルールが分からない可能性が非常に高いと思います。
海外の方の防犯意識を基準に考えると、自分が暴漢になるので、住人の方々を見かけても迂闊に尋ねられない為、何となくその色の袋が捨ててあった翌日か、一週間後ぐらいに想像で捨てているパターンもあるようです。
私の住む街では、区役所か市役所の環境ページで10種類の言語でゴミ出しルールを案内しており、スマートフォンなどの端末でQRコードを用意しています。
こちらはQRコードを撮影する各端末に設定されたユーザー言語を自動認識し、翻訳ページが表示されるようになっています。
もし日本にお住まいの方でゴミの出し方が分からない方は、ぜひ検索して、お住まいの市役所か区役所の環境ページでゴミ出しの専用の袋やゴミの分別の仕方、ゴミ出し日の朝・清掃車が来るのか、ゴミ出し日の夜・清掃車が来るのか、ご確認下さい。
また各都道府県のビル・マンション管理会社、ビル・マンションオーナー・管理人は、ゴミ捨て場に多国語の注意書き、ゴミの捨て方ポスターも多国語の注意書きを用意して置くと、あらかじめトラブルが発生しない確率が高くなるのではないでしょうか?
20260225 15:20 文章を直しました。
Several years ago, I noticed a building in my neighborhood where trash was strewn everywhere.
It was a middle-class apartment complex, slightly more casual, but that one spot was spectacularly messy.
Every time I passed by, it bothered me.
The reason it bothered me was the Broken Windows Theory.
The reason it bothered me was the Broken Windows Theory.
It's the theory that when the environment is messy, public safety deteriorates.
In reality, areas littered with trash or conveying only violent imagery are decaying.
In reality, areas littered with trash or conveying only violent imagery are decaying.
This kind of mess sends the message that broken windows are normal around here.
I strongly agree with the Broken Windows Theory that such disorder makes it psychologically easier to decide that common sense doesn't need to be followed.
So, when walking nearby, if I see more trash on the streets, I avoid going out at night.
This approach has been quite effective and has helped me significantly.
This approach has been quite effective and has helped me significantly.
At the time, I peeked cautiously into the building entrance, but couldn't figure out why.
The trash area already had strong warning signs posted, and unless someone was viewing the world purely with malice, it seemed unlikely that several people would be consistently littering like that.
Suddenly, it occurred to me: Could it be that many residents here are from overseas?
Perhaps they simply don't understand how to dispose of trash properly?
The trash area already had strong warning signs posted, and unless someone was viewing the world purely with malice, it seemed unlikely that several people would be consistently littering like that.
Suddenly, it occurred to me: Could it be that many residents here are from overseas?
Perhaps they simply don't understand how to dispose of trash properly?
Perhaps they weren't clear on the garbage collection schedule or sorting methods?
That was my guess.
After observing for about a month with no improvement, I downloaded the official garbage disposal poster for my neighborhood from the ward office website.
I thought about creating my own posters translated into various languages using Google Translate and asking the management company for permission to post them.
But when I searched, I found they already had disposal instructions prepared in multiple languages. Embarrassed by my own assumptions, I gave up.
Years later, I happened to pass by and remembered this. The scattered trash was gone.
Years later, I happened to pass by and remembered this. The scattered trash was gone.
Did people simply not know how to dispose of trash?
Or did a bunch of folks who didn't want to follow the rule—putting out trash between evening and night on the designated day, and preferably not the day before—move out en masse?
Or did a bunch of folks who didn't want to follow the rule—putting out trash between evening and night on the designated day, and preferably not the day before—move out en masse?
Wondering this, I looked at the building entrance. Posters explaining disposal rules in multiple languages were posted.
Meaning it had been resolved.
I don't think this will 100% solve the litter problem at the dumping site or the trouble caused by people not following the designated days and disposal rules.
But I suspect most of the garbage disposal issues stem from people simply not understanding the rules because they don't understand the language.
Considering the security awareness of foreign residents, they might hesitate to ask neighbors out of fear of being seen as suspicious.
So, they might just guess and dispose of their trash the next day or a week later, based on the color of bags they saw discarded.
In my town, the ward or city office's environmental page provides garbage disposal rules in 10 languages,
In my town, the ward or city office's environmental page provides garbage disposal rules in 10 languages,
with QR codes available for smartphones and other devices.
These QR codes automatically detect the user's language settings on their device and display the translated page.
If you live in Japan and are unsure about garbage disposal methods, please search for and check your city or ward office's environmental page. Confirm details like the specific bags required, how to sort your garbage, and whether collection occurs in the morning or evening on disposal days.
These QR codes automatically detect the user's language settings on their device and display the translated page.
If you live in Japan and are unsure about garbage disposal methods, please search for and check your city or ward office's environmental page. Confirm details like the specific bags required, how to sort your garbage, and whether collection occurs in the morning or evening on disposal days.
Furthermore, building and condominium management companies, owners, and managers in each prefecture should consider placing multilingual notices and posters explaining proper waste disposal methods at garbage collection points.
This would significantly reduce the likelihood of issues arising in advance.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)






