Methods for Disposing of Unwanted Items: "Municipal Bulky Waste" Ranks First. Approximately 62% Cited "Difficulty in Carrying Out" as a Problem.

The Reality of Disposing of Unwanted Items: It Doesn't End with Just "Throwing Away"

Moving, redecorating, spring cleaning.

At every turning point in life, the task of "disposing of unwanted items" invariably accompanies it.

However, when you actually try to dispose of them, you often find yourself unsure of what to do, such as how to carry out large furniture, whether to sell books and games, or if you should just throw them away.

Therefore, in collaboration with "Startline," an unwanted item removal service in Kobe, Hyogo, we conducted a survey on the "actual state of unwanted item disposal" targeting 400 men and women nationwide who responded that they have "experience disposing of unwanted items" in a preliminary survey.

*When quoting the content of this press release, please take the following actions:*

* Indicate that the source is "a survey conducted by NEXER Inc. and Startline, an unwanted item removal service in Kobe, Hyogo." * Include a link to Startline (https://startline2020.work/)

"Survey on the Actual State of Unwanted Item Disposal" Survey Overview

Survey Method: Internet-based questionnaire

Survey Period: June 18, 2026 - June 22, 2026

Target Respondents: Men and women nationwide who responded that they have "experience disposing of unwanted items" in a preliminary survey.

Valid Responses: 400 samples

Questions:

Question 1: What is the most frequently disposed of unwanted item you have dealt with so far?

Question 2: By what method did you primarily dispose of them?

Question 3: Please tell us the reason for choosing that method.

Question 4: Have you ever felt "troublesome" or "difficult" when disposing of unwanted items?

Question 5: What kind of problems did you encounter? (Multiple answers possible)

Question 6: What method do you consider ideal for disposing of unwanted items next time?

Question 7: Please tell us the reason for your choice.

*Note: As a general rule, figures are rounded to the second decimal place, so the total may not be 100%.

29.3% Responded That "Clothing" Was the Most Frequently Disposed of Unwanted Item

First, we asked about the most frequently disposed of unwanted item so far.

"Clothing" was the most common at 29.3%.

This was followed by "Books/Magazines" at 28.3%, "Furniture" at 17.3%, and "Home Appliances" at 10.8%.

Clothing and books/magazines are everyday items that tend to accumulate gradually in daily life.

While furniture and home appliances are not disposed of as frequently, they can be troublesome to carry out or require complex procedures.

This suggests that households have a variety of unwanted items, from small, easy-to-dispose-of objects to large items that are burdensome to handle.

30.8% Responded That They Disposed of Unwanted Items via "Municipal Bulky Waste"

Next, we asked about the primary method used to dispose of these unwanted items.

"Municipal bulky waste" was the most common method at 30.8%.

This was closely followed by "Recycling shops" at 29.5%, with "Disposal as combustible/non-combustible waste" at 19.5% and "Unwanted item removal services" at 10.8%.

This indicates that people choose their disposal method based on the type and condition of the unwanted items, aiming to reduce costs and effort, or to have usable items resold.

We asked for the reasons behind choosing each method and present some of them below.

Those who answered "Municipal bulky waste":

* Because it's the simplest and easiest. (20s, Female) * Because they come to pick it up in front of my house. (30s, Female) * Because it's cheaper if I bring it myself. (40s, Male)

Those who answered "Recycling shop":

* Because there's a shop near my house and it's good for reuse. (20s, Female) * Because I can get some money for it with little effort. (30s, Female) * Because I wanted them to buy it, even for 10 yen. (40s, Male)

Those who answered "Disposal as combustible/non-combustible waste":

* Because I can just throw it away. (30s, Female) * Because many items were in poor condition. (30s, Male) * Because it's the least troublesome. I put it out on recycling day. (40s, Female)

Those who answered "Unwanted item removal service":

* Because they come to pick it up from inside my room. (40s, Female) * Because they take it for free, I can dispose of a lot at once, and it gets tidied up quickly. (40s, Female) * Because unwanted items are reused as resources, which is environmentally friendly. (40s, Male)

For those who chose "Municipal bulky waste," reasons included ease of requesting collection and cost savings when bringing items in themselves.

Regarding "Recycling shops," in addition to proximity, opinions were received that it would be good if items could be bought even for a small amount. The desire to reuse items that are still usable also seems to encourage their use.

Furthermore, those who answered "Disposal as combustible/non-combustible waste" wanted to dispose of items in poor condition that were difficult to sell without much effort. Those who chose "Unwanted item removal service" emphasized the convenience of having items picked up from their rooms and the ability to clear out a large amount at once.

For large quantities of unwanted items or when self-transport is difficult, using a removal service appears to be an option.

56.5% Experienced "Trouble" or "Difficulty" When Disposing of Unwanted Items

Next, we asked if respondents had ever felt "troublesome" or "difficult" when disposing of unwanted items.

The results were "Yes" at 56.5% and "No" at 43.5%.

This shows that over half of the respondents have experienced some form of burden or difficulty when disposing of unwanted items.

We asked those who answered "Yes" about the specific problems they encountered.

"Difficulty in carrying out" was the most common at 61.9%.

This was followed by "High disposal costs" at 31.9%, "Uncertainty about sorting methods" at 30.1%, and "Having to wait for collection day" at 22.1%.

Disposing of unwanted items can involve multiple burdens, including carrying out, costs, sorting, and storage until collection day. Among these, "Difficulty in carrying out" was the most frequent, indicating that many people struggle with disposing of large furniture and appliances that are hard to move on their own.

29.8% Cited "Hassle-free and Quick" as Their Ideal Disposal Method

Finally, we asked what method would be ideal for disposing of unwanted items next time.

"Hassle-free and quick" was the most common response at 29.8%.

This was followed by "Being able to sell them" at 29.5%, "Having them picked up from my home" at 15.8%, and "Being able to dispose of them cheaply" at 14.3%.

While many people want to dispose of unwanted items quickly and without hassle, there is also a nearly equal demand for items to be resold.

This aligns with the previous question where the use of municipal bulky waste and recycling shops were nearly tied, suggesting that the choice of method is divided between prioritizing "convenience" and "financial benefits."

We asked for the reasons behind choosing their ideal method and present some of them below.

Those who answered "Hassle-free and quick":

* Because hassle is the biggest enemy. (20s, Male) * Because it would be easy if it could be done with the same feeling as regular trash disposal. (20s, Female) * Because time efficiency is important. (40s, Male)

Those who answered "Being able to sell them":

* Because it's helpful if I can get some money for it. (20s, Female) * Because it's better to have them bought than to pay to dispose of them as trash. (30s, Female) * Because it's nice when unwanted items turn into money. (40s, Female)

Those who answered "Having them picked up from my home":

* Because there's the hassle of taking them, and sometimes they're only available on weekdays. (30s, Female) * Because I have to use my own gas and schedule my day to transport them. It's more helpful if they come to pick them up. (30s, Male) * Because they are heavy to carry, so I want them to come and pick them up. (40s, Female)

Those who chose "Hassle-free and quick" cited a desire to dispose of items with the same ease as regular trash disposal and to prioritize time efficiency. This suggests that the more procedures or preparations required for disposal, the more burdensome it feels.

Those who answered "Being able to sell them" preferred to get some money for the items, even if it was a small amount, rather than paying for disposal.

Furthermore, those who chose "Having them picked up from my home" expressed a desire to reduce the burden of transportation, arranging for a vehicle, and coordinating schedules. Having items picked up is particularly helpful when disposing of heavy furniture or appliances.

Summary

In this survey, "clothing" was the most frequently disposed of unwanted item. For the primary disposal methods, "municipal bulky waste" and "recycling shops" were nearly tied, indicating that the choice between discarding and selling is made based on the type and condition of the unwanted items.

On the other hand, 56.5% responded that they had experienced "trouble" or "difficulty" when disposing of unwanted items.

Among these, "difficulty in carrying out" was the most common at 61.9%, suggesting that many people find it burdensome to dispose of large furniture and appliances on their own.

For the next disposal of unwanted items, "hassle-free and quick" and "being able to sell them" were the top choices, with nearly equal proportions. This reflects both the desire to reduce burdens as much as possible and the need to get some money for items that can still be used.

When disposing of unwanted items, it is important to choose a method that suits you, considering the burden of carrying them out, the time required for disposal, and the condition of the items. By organizing your disposal methods, even the unwanted items you've been putting off might become easier to tackle.

<For use in articles, etc.>

* Indicate that the source is "a survey conducted by NEXER Inc. and Startline, an unwanted item removal service in Kobe, Hyogo." * Include a link to Startline (https://startline2020.work/)

<About Startline>

Company Name: AGATE Inc.

Address: 3-3-9 Kagura-cho, Nagata-ku, Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture, 653-0836

Representative: Kenji Kanai

Tel: 078-647-8110

URL: https://startline2020.work/

Business Activities: Unwanted item removal,遺品整理 (personal effects sorting), junk removal for cluttered homes. They handle a wide range of furniture, appliances, and bulky waste from homes and offices with clear pricing, including all-you-can-fit plans for light trucks. They offer same-day service and free estimates, providing prompt service with a focus on the local community. If you have concerns that are difficult to discuss with male staff, female staff are available, so please feel free to contact them if you are in trouble.

<About NEXER Inc.>

Headquarters: Rise Arena Building 11F, 4-5-2 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo, 170-0013

Representative Director: Yuya Miyata

URL: https://www.nexer.co.jp

Business Activities: SEO, Web Branding, Web Advertising, Website Production, Media