Quick Answer: To dispose of a designated appliance (AC, TV, fridge/freezer, washer/dryer) via Japan Post or Yucho Bank, know the item type (品目), manufacturer, and size/capacity class for each unit—for TVs, the screen-size class; for refrigerators/freezers, the storage-capacity class. Those fields drive the recycling fee on the ticket. Bring model number / nameplate photos if you can; they help at the counter and at drop-off but are not always ticket fields. One appliance = one ticket. Pay, keep your receipt, then take the ticket and appliance to a designated collection site during posted hours.
Back to the series hub: Appliance Recycling Law Guide.
What should you write down before going to the post office?
Stand in front of the unit and gather what the ticket and fee lookup need. RKC’s writing guide centers on item type, manufacturer, and size/capacity class (plus the fee)—not necessarily the model number printed on every form.
- Why it matters
- AC / TV / refrigerator / freezer / washer / dryer — core ticket field
- Why it matters
- Selects the fee table — core ticket field
- Why it matters
- TV screen-size class or fridge/freezer storage-capacity class — core ticket field
- Why it matters
- Set from the above; paid with the ticket
- Why it matters
- Helpful for clerk/site ID; bring photos if you can, but not always written on the ticket
| Field | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Item type (品目) | AC / TV / refrigerator / freezer / washer / dryer — core ticket field |
| Manufacturer (メーカー名) | Selects the fee table — core ticket field |
| Size / capacity class (大小区分) | TV screen-size class or fridge/freezer storage-capacity class — core ticket field |
| Recycling fee (リサイクル料金) | Set from the above; paid with the ticket |
| Model number (型番) | Helpful for clerk/site ID; bring photos if you can, but not always written on the ticket |
📌 One appliance = one ticket. Two old TVs means two payments and two tickets.
If the label is unreadable, a post office clerk may help using partial information, but acceptance at the collection site can still fail. Take clear photos of the nameplate before cleaning or moving the unit—even when the model number is not a ticket line item.
What happens at Japan Post or Yucho Bank?
The standard method is the post-office/postal-bank transfer payment system (料金郵便局振込方式) operated via RKC.
Step 1: Get the ticket form
Ask for a home appliance recycling ticket (家電リサイクル券). You receive the ticket and instructions.
Step 2: Fill in the ticket
Follow RKC’s current writing guide—typically item type, manufacturer, applicable size/capacity class, fee, and your contact details in the boxes provided. The clerk may ask about model number to confirm class, but follow the form fields rather than assuming every unit needs a 型番 line on the ticket.
Do not paste the ticket over the nameplate or model label. Staff at the collection site use those marks to verify the unit.
Step 3: Pay the recycling fee
Pay at the counter (or via procedures your branch supports). Keep the payment certificate / receipt (振込証明書・明細票) safely—you may need it if questions arise.
📌 ATM-only branches: Some locations handle ticket sales differently or have limited counter hours. Check branch notices; if unsure, choose a full-service post office with a staffed window.
Step 4: Deliver to a designated collection site
Find a site that accepts your item type: RKC designated collection site search.
Before driving:
- Business hours and last acceptance time
- Whether you must call ahead for large units
- Stairs, parking, and unloading rules
You may also pay collection/transport through a shop if you are not self-hauling— that is a separate charge from the recycling fee.
What should you do to the appliance before drop-off?
- Remove food, laundry, water, and foreign objects (needles, clothes, etc.)
- Do not cover or deface the nameplate
- Secure doors/cords for safe transport
- For smart TVs, plan factory reset / logout before wipe-down (see disassembly & data caution, companion article)
What often goes wrong?
- Prevention
- Double-check RKC manufacturer tables
- Prevention
- Call ahead; avoid end-of-month rush
- Prevention
- Clean around label; photo first
- Prevention
- Attach ticket to a blank surface on the unit
- Prevention
- Use phrase sheet below
| Problem | Prevention |
|---|---|
| Wrong size class on ticket | Double-check RKC manufacturer tables |
| Site closed or full | Call ahead; avoid end-of-month rush |
| Label hidden by tape or dirt | Clean around label; photo first |
| Ticket placed over model text | Attach ticket to a blank surface on the unit |
| Assuming English at counter | Use phrase sheet below |
Useful Japanese phrases (post office & drop-off)
- Japanese
- 家電リサイクル券をお願いします
- Romaji
- Kaden risaikuru-ken wo onegai shimasu
- Japanese
- メーカーは◯◯、型番は△△です
- Romaji
- Meeka wa ◯◯, kataban wa △△ desu
- Japanese
- テレビ1台 / 冷蔵庫1台
- Romaji
- Terebi ichi-dai / reizouko ichi-dai
- Japanese
- 指定引取場所はどこですか
- Romaji
- Shitei hikitori basho wa doko desu ka
- Japanese
- 持ち込みは今日できますか
- Romaji
- Mochikomi wa kyou dekimasu ka
| English | Japanese | Romaji |
|---|---|---|
| Home appliance recycling ticket, please | 家電リサイクル券をお願いします | Kaden risaikuru-ken wo onegai shimasu |
| This is the manufacturer and model | メーカーは◯◯、型番は△△です | Meeka wa ◯◯, kataban wa △△ desu |
| One TV / one refrigerator | テレビ1台 / 冷蔵庫1台 | Terebi ichi-dai / reizouko ichi-dai |
| Where is designated collection near here? | 指定引取場所はどこですか | Shitei hikitori basho wa doko desu ka |
| Is self drop-off OK today? | 持ち込みは今日できますか | Mochikomi wa kyou dekimasu ka |
Frequently asked questions
Can I pay at a convenience store instead?
The post-office/postal-bank transfer system is the common self-service path described by RKC. Other arrangements go through retailers or cooperative stores. Confirm on RKC post-office transfer method.
What if I lose the ticket or receipt?
Contact the post office where you paid and RKC guidance promptly. Reissue rules depend on payment status—do not discard receipts until the unit is accepted.
The collection site refused my unit—now what?
Ask on the spot what failed (ticket mismatch, missing label, wrong item class, hours). You may need a corrected ticket or a different site. If the store that sold you the unit is known, call them as well.
What if the model number is unreadable or missing?
You may still proceed if you can identify manufacturer, item type, and size/capacity class—those drive the fee. A clerk may help, but collection-site acceptance is not guaranteed without readable nameplate information. Photos of any remaining marks help.
Is this the right article if I never bought the appliance new?
If you do not know the purchase store, read Unknown Store Routes first—your municipality page may list cooperative shops or licensed haulers.
Sources
- RKC — Post-office/postal-bank payment method (verified 2026-07-04) — official ticket payment flow
- RKC — How to complete the ticket (Japanese) (verified 2026-07-04) — field-by-field writing rules
- RKC — Major manufacturer fee tables (verified 2026-07-04) — recycling fee lookup
- RKC — Designated collection site search (verified 2026-07-04) — drop-off locations