Booking bulky trash pickup

Before the call

๐Ÿ’ก What to know before you call

In Tokyo's 23 wards, bulky trash (roughly 30 cm or more on a side) is paid and must be booked in advance with your own ward's ็ฒ—ๅคงใใ ใ„ใ”ใฟ, online 24 hours or by phone (typically Monโ€“Sat 8:00โ€“19:00, closed Sundays and New Year). They tell you the fee and pickup day. Only after booking, buy that ward's ใ”ใฟ at a convenience store or shop with the sign (another ward's stickers won't work, and leftovers usually aren't refunded). Write the pickup date and your name or on each sticker, stick one on every item, and put them out by 8:00 a.m. on the day. You don't need to be there. Some wards (Setagaya, Shinagawa) also take online card payment instead of stickers, and Setagaya's online form works in English. Calls are hard to get through after holidays and in Marchโ€“April; Shinagawa says 10โ€“11 a.m. is easier.

Words this call depends on

  • ็ฒ—ๅคงใใ ใ„ใ”ใฟใ‚’ใŸใ„ใ‚“ใงใ™ใŒ

    I'd like to put out some bulky trash.

  • they'll ask!

    measurements, dimensions

  • write it down

    pickup day

  • ใฏใฉใ“ใงใฐใงใ™ใ‹

    Where should I buy the disposal stickers?

  • write it down

    reception / booking number

  • ใพใงใซใฐใงใ™ใ‹

    By what time should I put it out?

Grammar you'll use

  • ใ€œใ‚“ใงใ™ใŒ

    soft opener: explains the situation and invites the listener to help

    Plain form + ใ‚“ใงใ™ใŒ (ใช-adj/noun + ใชใ‚“ใงใ™ใŒ)

    ็ฒ—ๅคงใ”ใฟใ‚’ใ‚“ใงใ™ใŒ

    Hint: ๅ‡บใ™

  • ใ€œใฐใ„ใ„ใงใ™ใ‹

    asking for advice: what/where/when should I ~?

    Question word + verb ใฐ-form + ใ„ใ„ใงใ™ใ‹ (่ฒทใ†โ†’่ฒทใˆใฐ, ๅ‡บใ™โ†’ๅ‡บใ›ใฐ, ใ™ใ‚‹โ†’ใ™ใ‚Œใฐ)

    ๅ‡ฆ็†ๅˆธใฏใฉใ“ใงใฐใ„ใ„ใงใ™ใ‹

    Hint: ่ฒทใ†

  • ใ€œใฆใ„ใŸใ ใ‘ใพใ™ใ‹

    Could you please ~? (polite request)

    Verb-ใฆ + ใ„ใŸใ ใ‘ใพใ™ใ‹

    ๆœฌๆฃšใฎๅฏธๆณ•ใ‚’ใ„ใŸใ ใ‘ใพใ™ใ‹

    Hint: ๆ•™ใˆใ‚‹

The flow of the call6 steps ยท orange = they'll ask you

  1. 1Say you want to put out bulky trashLines 1โ€“2
  2. 2They ask what the items are (they ask you)Lines 3โ€“4
  3. 3They ask the size (they ask you)Lines 5โ€“6
  4. 4Hear the fee and pickup dayLine 7
  5. 5Ask where to buy the stickersLines 8โ€“9
  6. 6Ask by what time to put them outLines 10โ€“12

Up next ยท step 2 of 4

Listen to the call