In Shibuya-ku there certainly is not much of an issue with trash. I put everything in trash cans and don't bother with recycling plastic. I put glass out for recycling; don't use transparent bags. Neither do any of the neighbors. Actually, the only people who put recycling in see-through plastic bags according to instructions are gaijin on my street.
In other places that use WTE there is no consumer waste separation. Also, if you read about the Japanese WTE processes they are all designed to manage slag in the process.
http://www.waste-management-world.co...nt-review.html