Izumiotsu City, Osaka: Promoting Litter Picking Even Amidst Concerns Over Garbage Bag Supply

Izumiotsu City will implement the 'Gomi Zero Daisakusen' (Zero Waste Operation) from 8:00 AM on Sunday, May 31, 2026, with approximately 4,000 participants including citizens, neighborhood associations, businesses, and city officials.

The 'Gomi Zero Daisakusen' is a city-wide clean-up activity that has continued since fiscal year 2008. The city aims for this initiative not to end with just the city-wide clean-up on May 31, but to allow participation in clean-up activities tailored to individual lifestyles, utilizing free volunteer bags during the period from Sunday, May 31, to Sunday, June 7.

In recent years, due to factors such as the shortage of naphtha, a raw material for plastic products, there have been movements towards shortages of designated garbage bags by local governments and changes in materials. Even as garbage bags become more valuable than ever, the city will not burden households with the cost of garbage bags for their efforts to keep the community clean. The free volunteer bags are one of the mechanisms to support such citizen actions and expand litter picking into daily clean-up activities.

[Free volunteer bags available for community clean-up (Left: for organizations, Right: for individuals)]

Creating an easy-to-participate environment with volunteer bags

In daily life, even if one finds litter on roads or in parks, the difficulty in understanding how to sort and dispose of it afterwards can be a barrier to action.

Litter picking is not just about picking up; it's also about how to sort, dispose of, and process the waste. Therefore, the city is working to create an easy-to-participate environment by distributing free volunteer bags that can be used for community clean-up activities, including the processing of collected waste. Garbage collected between May 31 and June 7 will be collected if placed out on your home's garbage collection day, still in the volunteer bag.

Additionally, small volunteer bags are distributed at the Environmental Division counter to make it easier for individuals to participate in small-scale litter picking. The goal is not just to collect a lot of garbage, but to value gradual participation in daily life, such as during commutes, walks, shopping trips, etc.

Organizations wishing to participate should apply at the Environmental Division counter by Friday, May 22. For individuals wishing to participate, small volunteer bags are distributed at the Environmental Division counter.

*Volunteer bags are to be used for clean-up activities in public places such as roads and parks. They cannot be used for household waste or business waste. Sorting and disposal methods should follow normal garbage disposal rules.

[Scene of city-wide clean-up. Clean-up activities conducted using volunteer bags]

Providing participation opportunities for those who cannot attend on the day

The 'Gomi Zero Daisakusen' is primarily based on the city-wide clean-up on Sunday, May 31.

Furthermore, those who cannot participate on the day can join clean-up activities using volunteer bags between Sunday, May 31, and Sunday, June 7. This involves picking up litter in familiar places during commutes, walks, shopping trips, or breaks in community activities, as part of their daily lives.

By accumulating such small actions, the initiative to beautify the city will be expanded from special days to daily routines.

Clean-up activities spreading to those involved with the city

With this system, clean-up activities are spreading not only among citizens but also among those involved with the city.

Sumo wrestlers from Nakamura-beya, who were active in the city for the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament in March this year, also participated in community litter picking activities using volunteer bags.

Citizens, neighborhood associations, businesses, city officials, and everyone involved with the city, each in their own capacity, contribute to keeping the city clean. We believe that the accumulation of these small actions will be the driving force supporting Izumiotsu City.

[Sumo wrestlers from Nakamura-beya, active in the city for the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament, also participated in clean-up activities using volunteer bags]

Visualizing litter picking with 'Pirika,' connecting communities

Pirika screen

Izumiotsu City operates a dedicated page 'Kirei ni Shiyoka! Izumiotsu' (Let's Clean Up! Izumiotsu) utilizing the litter-picking SNS app 'Pirika.' Since its introduction in 2018, approximately 16,134,700 pieces of litter have been picked up in the city as of May 1, 2026.

'Pirika' is an SNS app that allows users to record and share their litter-picking activities. By posting the cleaned locations and activity details, it visualizes the circle of litter picking and serves as an opportunity to expand community activities.

By supporting 'post-picking processing' with free volunteer bags and promoting 'visualization of actions' with Pirika, Izumiotsu City is working to create an environment that makes it easy to participate in litter picking by combining these mechanisms.

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Implementation Overview

Date and Time: Sunday, May 31, 2026, from 8:00 AM for about 2 hours (held even in light rain)

Participants: Approximately 4,000 people including citizens, neighborhood associations, businesses, and city officials

Clean-up Locations: Various places throughout the city, such as around homes and businesses, parks, and roads.