Garbage Sorting and Recycling in Korea: A Beginner's Guide

One of the first surprises for many newcomers is how carefully Korea separates household waste. The system is easy once you know it, and following it keeps you on good terms with your neighbors and building manager.

The three main groups

• General waste (ilban sseuregi, 일반 쓰레기) — things that cannot be recycled or composted.
• Food waste (eumsingmul sseuregi, 음식물 쓰레기) — leftovers and food scraps, collected separately.
• Recyclables (jaehwaryong, 재활용) — paper, plastic, cans, glass bottles, vinyl/plastic film and similar items, sorted by type.

General waste: use the official bags

Korea uses a pay-as-you-throw system. General waste must go in designated bags (jongnyangje bongtu, 종량제 봉투), which you buy at convenience stores, supermarkets and some marts. The bags are issued by each local district, so buy the bags for the area where you live; bags from another district may not be accepted. They come in several sizes.

Food waste

Food waste is handled differently depending on where you live. Common methods include special small bags or stickers, a shared bin with a prepaid card or chip, or a building collection bin. Drain liquid first. Some items that look like food are usually treated as general waste, for example large bones, shells of shellfish, eggshells, tea bags or fruit pits, but the exact list varies, so check your local guide.

Recyclables

Recyclables generally do not need special bags, but they should be empty, rinsed and sorted:

• Remove labels and caps from plastic bottles where possible, and flatten them.
• Rinse food containers and cans.
• Flatten cardboard boxes and remove tape.
• Keep vinyl and plastic film (for example snack wrappers and plastic bags) separate if your building has a bin for it.

Apartment complexes often have a designated recycling day and area, while villas and one-room buildings may use a spot by the entrance or the street on set days and times.

Large items and special waste

Furniture, appliances and other bulky items cannot simply be left outside. You usually apply to your district office (online or in person), pay a fee and attach a sticker or reference number before putting the item out. Batteries, fluorescent lamps and medicines often have separate collection boxes.

How to find your local rules

Rules differ by city and district (gu, 구), and fines can apply for dumping waste incorrectly. The easiest ways to learn your local rules are:

• Ask your landlord, real estate agent or building manager on move-in day.
• Look for the notice board near your building's collection point.
• Check your district office (gucheong, 구청) website, which often has multilingual guides.

When in doubt, ask a neighbor or the building manager. People are usually happy to show a newcomer how it works.