How to Dispose of Trash in Korea: Guide for Foreigners

The first things that foreigners experience culturally when they reside in Korea is the organized, militant-style approach to the disposal of trash. Not like in some countries where you toss everything into one trash bin, Korea has a lot of detailed recycling and trash guidelines. How to dispose of cleanup waste is not just important so that you don’t get fined but out of respect for where you are and the environment around you. General Waste (일반쓰레기) General rubbish is anything that can not be recycled. This would include the plastic packaging covered in food, broken items, tissues and sanitary products. In order to dispose of general waste you need to use special white garbage bags called 종량제 봉투 (volume based disposal bags). You can find these packs in various sizes, and the price may vary depending on the city or district you reside in. They are available for purchase at local grocery stores and convenience stores like GS25, CU, and 7-Eleven. Food Waste (음식물 쓰레기) Food waste is processed differently in Korea because here it’s recycled into feed or compost. You may not even Trash food waste. Food waste needs to be squeezed of its liquid and put into a compost bin or orange-colored bag that’s available for purchase at supermarkets and convenience stores including GS25, CU and 7-Eleven. Some apartments have smart disposal machines that weigh your food waste and charge you accordingly. Among the common errors foreign residents make: They throw bones, shells or teabags in food waste — which, in fact, should be tossed in the general trash. Recycling (재활용) Korea is hell-bent on recycling. Goods have to be classified as follows: (Plastic bottles and containers (rinse out) If Needed Then Broken down by Color if desired Glass Bottles Cans and metal Paper and thin cardboard (flattened and bundled) Recyclables should be free of soiled food and containers that have not been rinsed clean of food are not good candidates for recycling. Most apartment complexes will have recycling stations, and rules are generally posted in Korean and English. Large Items (대형폐기물) If you need to discard big household items — furniture, mattresses, electronics, say — you can’t just leave them on the street. You have to buy a disposal sticker from your district office or convenience store instead. Place the sticker on the item, and position in the collection point. Your item will not be picked up without this. Special Waste Batteries, light bulbs and other electronics also have to be disposed of differently. Hazardous stuff These are the sort of things you don't want to throw in the regular trash; these are things you'll want to dispose of carefully; red-light-switch stuff, if you will. Most local convenience stores (or rental recycling sites in apartment complexes) have small bins for this stuff. Tips for Foreigners Be sure to always check the specific rules in your own neighborhood (the details might differ by district). Use translation apps to read labels on disposal