recycling, food waste, & trash guide
a guide to be used for SOUTH KOREA
use CTRL + F (windows) / command + F (mac) to find information quickly
table of contents
correlating video: coming soon
guide updated 22.08.10
If you’re on this page, you probably live in South Korea (or will soon) and may be confused about how to sort your waste. The guide below should help with that. This guide is directed toward those who have no idea where to even begin — everything is explained, from how to ask for a trash bag at the store to what to do with a toothbrush. If you have questions about something specific, or if a piece of information here needs to be updated (cite your source), please let me know in the comments.
BASIC INFORMATION
when
When your waste is picked up for disposal will depend on where you live (house, apartment, goshiwon/officetel, villa; district, neighborhood).
Trash gets picked up on specific days according to where you live. Usually, the days are as follows:
Monday, Wednesday, Friday
Tuesday and Thursday
OR every day sans Sunday
Waste does not get picked up on public holidays! Do not put out trash or recycling the night before public holidays (for houses and villas; large apartments are usually fine).
You should put your trash out at a specific time. This time can be anywhere from 8pm~3am the night before/morning of. If you are in a rural area, your trash may get picked up later. You can sometimes get away with putting it out early in the morning (6~8am), but that is not always the case. Find the specific time and day for your city and district by asking your co-teacher/employer, landlord, realtor, or by finding it on Naver.
How to find via Naver (use Google Chrome to translate into English ((right-click, “translate to English”):
Find your district’s website by using this link.
Put in your district’s name (구) after “쓰레기배출안내”.
Here is a list of districts so you can copy/paste.
Multiple cities have the same district (구) names; if you live in a popular name for a district, like Buk-gu, Dong-gu, Jung-gu, Nam-gu, or Seo-gu, write your city’s name as well (ex. Busan Buk-gu, 부산 북구).
Look for a .go.kr website of your district.
If you are able to find the website, but not the trash guide, look for it under the “Cleaning/Environment” (청소/환경) section.
Once you find your district’s trash guide, find your specific neighborhood (동) for pick-up days.
where
Where to place your recycling, food waste, and trash depends on where you live.
House - right outside your gate or at the end of a driveway
Apartment - in the trash disposal area (쓰레기장, 분리수거장, among other names)
Officetel/Goshiwon - in bins outside or in a trash room
Villa - on the street (right outside or on the corner of the block), in bins outside, or in a trash room
Convenience stores, food courts, cafes, and self-serve restaurants/fast food places recycle as well. Look for the labeled bins. There are usually images on the bins to help you dispose of the waste properly. Oftentimes, it is only divided into recyclables, general waste, food waste, and liquid/ice.
apartment trash disposal area
apartment trash disposal area
why
If you do your trash incorrectly, either the waste collectors will not pick up your trash or you will be fined anywhere from ₩100,000 to ₩1,000,000 (approx. $100 USD to $1,000 USD). If fined, you may also be asked to do a small program (ex. send them a video or pictures of you separating the trash correctly).
Trash goes out at certain times to avoid smell, bugs, and leachate from food waste. Stray animals (mostly cats) can rip open/tip over trash and food waste bags/buckets, so discharging your waste at the designated time is necessary to keep the streets clean and make sure stray animals don’t eat anything potentially dangerous to their health.
how to dispose
1. Clean the item first (if it is not clean, it cannot be recycled).
Recycling:
Dump, rinse, dry, and break apart/break down.
Take off labels, caps, and other recyclable materials (vinyl labels on plastic bottles, aluminum foil, saran wrap stuck to plastic containers); for bottles with partially glued labels, it is easier to take off a vinyl label if you squish the bottle first.
Some items will have multiple types of plastic, vinyl, or other recyclable material; read the label, and if there is a list next to the recycling symbol, dispose of the specific parts accordingly (ex. 뚜껑: HDPE (lid: HDPE)).
Remove tape and stickers from paper, cardboard, plastic, vinyl, and glass.
Flatten the item as much as possible (squish plastic bottles and metal cans, etc.)
Food Waste:
Separate the recyclable food waste from the non-recyclable food waste (more info in the food waste section).
Remove non-food items (toothpicks, plastic caps, etc.)
Rinse heavily salted foods (kimchi, pastes, etc.).
Drain as much water as possible from your food waste bag.
2. Put the item in the correct bins or bag.
3. Put your waste outside on the specific days and times allocated for trash disposal in your neighborhood.
supplies
trash bags
food waste bags
food waste buckets
food waste sticker sheet
What supplies you need will depend on where you live; usually:
Apartment:
regular food waste bins on the left, automated food waste bin on the right
official district trash bag
official complex food waste card
OR official district food waste bag
* Food waste goes inside the large, 120L trashcan with the (usually) orange lid; put the entirety of your food waste bag inside of this can. You do not need to dump out the food waste bag. Some apartment complexes have an automated system that requires a card to access the can; if this applies to you, you do not need to buy food waste bags. The machine will weigh how much food waste you put in and charge you accordingly. Do not put your entire bag inside of this automated can, you should dump out the contents of the bag.
Officetel/Goshiwon:
official district trash bag
official complex food waste card
OR food waste bucket + official district stickers
OR official district food waste bag
OR pay for food waste disposal in a monthly fee
* Goshiwon (고시원) are dormitory-esque living spaces. Usually, there is a shared kitchen. This means, typically, food waste will all be collected together in the communal kitchen. This may depend on the building owner, however. Because of this, food waste collection varies. A general food waste fee can be included in the goshiwon’s maintenance fee if collected together.
Villa:
official district trash bag
food waste bucket + official district stickers
OR official district food waste bagrecycling net or official bag (depends on the district)
OR see-through recycling bags (depends on the district)
House:
official district trash bag
food waste bucket + official district stickers
OR official district food waste bagrecycling net or official bag (depends on the district)
OR see-through recycling bags (depends on the district)
where to buy
You can purchase general trash bags, food waste bags, and food waste stickers at most local marts and supermarkets. Sometimes you can find them at convenience stores as well, but do not count on it. Not all stores have large sizes (50ℓ+) readily available (although chains like Homeplus and e-mart might). Visit your community center for large sizes.
General trash bags can be from 5ℓ to 100ℓ; I suggest 20ℓ for all households. It can last you 1 to 3 weeks, depending on your habits.
Food waste bags can be from 2.5/3ℓ to 120ℓ; I suggest 2.5/3ℓ~5ℓ for a 1~2-person household.
If you like to cook often, a 5ℓ bucket/bag can last you around a week. If you do not cook often, it can last upwards of a month. Please freeze your food waste to reduce smell, bugs, and mold.Food waste stickers can be from 2.5/3ℓ to 120ℓ. Like food waste bags, I suggest 2.5/3ℓ~5ℓ stickers and buckets for a 1~2-person household. Make sure your sticker size matches your bucket size. You can have a sticker that is for a larger size than your bucket, but not smaller.
Food waste buckets can be purchased at local marts, supermarkets, Daiso, or online. Food waste buckets have 3 pieces: the main container, the inside strainer, and a lid. You can use any bucket with these components in most neighborhoods (check if your neighborhood requires a specific bucket first).
Recycling nets and official bags can be found at either local marts or your community center. Recycling nets are typically used for villas in populated areas and are shared by all residents. Detached homes can also have recycling nets. Not all neighborhoods use these, though. Even if your neighborhood does, you can still typically use a clear plastic bag for your recycling.
incheon official plastic recycling bag
incheon official recycling bag
To my knowledge, only some cities have specific recycling bags; all other places use plain vinyl/plastic shopping bags. These bags should be see-through (you can also use the vinyl bags packs of toilet paper and paper towels come in); you can use opaque colored bags as long as waste collectors can view the recycling inside from the top.
see-through recycling bags
about purchasing
Korea uses a pay-as-you-go system (종량제) with trash bags, food waste bags, and food waste stickers. You do not have to pay a monthly fee to have your trash and recycling picked up. The bags and stickers themselves are very cheap. A 20ℓ general trash bag is around 500 won (~.50 USD) and a 5ℓ food waste sticker is around 200 won (~.20 USD).
Food waste buckets can be anywhere from 5,000 won to 15,000+ won, depending on the quality and where you purchase it (Daiso and your local mart are the cheapest options; not every store will have a food waste bucket. Usually, you do not need a specific one from the government, but in some areas you do. Check your district’s website). Most food waste buckets are strong, sturdy plastic, so they last a long time if you take care of them properly.
You will have to ask for bags and stickers at the checkout counter. Some large marts will have packs of trash bags at the front, but not every size and not every mart. If you buy a single bag at the checkout counter, it will have a handle so it can double as a grocery bag. Packs of bags tend to not have handles. Some marts will have food waste stickers at the customer service counter instead of at the checkout counter.
how to ask
This is what you need to say to get what you want. You can copy/paste the phrase to show an employee of the store. You will see “5L” (5 liters) and “10개” (10 bags) in the sentences. Edit the sentence to get what you want (20L bag or 1 bag instead).
General Trash Bags:
안녕하세요? 5L 쓰레기봉투 있습니까?
“An-nyong-ha-se-yo? Oh li-tuh sseu-re-gi-bong-tu its-seum-ni-kka?”
“Hello. Do you have 5L trash bags?”5L 쓰레기봉투 10개 주세요. 감사합니다.
“Oh li-tuh sseu-re-gi-bong-tu ship-gae ju-se-yo. Gam-sa-ham-ni-da.”
“10 5L trash bags, please. Thank you.”
Food Waste Bags:
안녕하세요? 5L 음식물 쓰레기 봉투 있습니까?
“An-nyong-ha-se-yo? Oh li-tuh eum-shing-mul sseu-re-gi-bong-tu its-seum-ni-kka?”
“Hello. Do you have 5L food waste bags?”5L 음식물 쓰레기 봉투 10개 주세요. 감사합니다.
“Oh li-tuh eum-shing-mul sseu-re-gi-bong-tu ship-gae ju-se-yo. Gam-sa-ham-ni-da.”
“10 5L food waste bags, please. Thank you.”
Food Waste Stickers:
안녕하세요? 5L 음식물 쓰레기 스티커 있습니까?
“An-nyong-ha-se-yo? Oh li-to eum-shing-mul sseu-re-gi-seu-ti-kuh its-seum-ni-kka?”
“Hello. Do you have 5L food waste stickers?”5L 음식물 쓰레기 스티커 1판 주세요. 감사합니다.
“Oh li-tuh eum-shing-mul sseu-re-gi-seu-ti-kuh han-pan ju-se-yo. Gam-sa-ham-ni-da.”
“1 sheet of 5L food waste stickers, please. Thank you.”
* one sheet is around 10 stickers
Food Waste Bucket:
안녕하세요? 음식물 쓰레기 수거통 있습니까?
“An-nyong-ha-se-yo? Eum-shing-mul sseu-re-gi-su-guh-tong its-seum-ni-kka?”
“Hello. Do you have a food waste bucket?”5L 음식물 쓰레기 수거통 주세요. 감사합니다.
“Oh li-tuh eum-shing-mul sseu-re-gi-su-guh-tong ju-se-yo. Gam-sa-ham-ni-da.”
“I need a 5L food waste bucket. Thank you.”
If you need to make your own sentence for something else entirely, here is the general format:
안녕하세요? (_____) 있습니까?
“An-nyong-ha-se-yo? (_____) its-seum-ni-kka?”
“Hello. Do you have (_____)?”(_____) (_____) 주세요. 감사합니다.
“(_____) (_____) ju-se-yo. Gam-sa-ham-ni-da.”
“(_____) (_____), please. Thank you.”
Notes:
Some cities require every district to have district-specific bags and stickers. Some cities will not pick up waste with another district’s name, some cities will. Be careful when grocery shopping in a different district if your district requires the same-district bag. If you move within your city and are in a new district, make sure to purchase the correct bags and stickers. You cannot use bags and stickers from different cities (i.e. use a trash bag from Seoul in Busan).
Most areas do not have recycling-specific bags. You can use any clear plastic bag from shopping as a recycling bag. Tie or tape the top of the bag so the contents do not spill over, but if the bag is not see-through, leave some space so the waste disposal workers can tell what is inside.
Some areas (for villas and houses) do not separate their recycling and instead put it all in the same bag; food and general waste are still separated accordingly.
Some villas and individual homes have a food waste grinder to dispose of their food waste, so you may not see any buckets/bags by your villa. You typically cannot use your landlord/landlady’s food waste grinder.
Never leave identifying information in your recycling or waste; besides privacy reasons, if you make a mistake, the trash police will not know whose trash it is if you remove shipping labels and cut them up into small pieces. Try to grind your receipts as well. Daiso sells hand-crank paper grinders for ₩5,000.
RECYCLING
paper
(종이)
Paper (종이)
Paper Pack (종이팩)
Separate it by paper, paper packs, and cardboard. There is no recycling symbol for cardboard.
Tips:
Take off tape and other materials (stickers, glue, staples, labels, etc.)
Break down boxes and paper packs (milk cartons, juice boxes)
Tie books, newspapers, and boxes together (in separate piles)
Do not put your paper recycling out if it is raining (the elderly collect cardboard for money, make their lives easier)
Recyclable:
Newspaper, books, notebooks (no wires)
wrapping paper (with no coatings), paper bags
paper boxes, cardboard, milk/juice cartons
Non-recyclable:
Paper with a coating (flyers, receipts, any paper tableware or paper dishes that are meant to hold food, etc.)
Sticky notes or paper with glue on it
Uncleaned or stained cartons
Boxes with tape or labels on them
vinyl
(비닐류)
There are multiple different types, but it all goes in the same bag.
Tips:
Shake out any crumbs from snack bags
Rinse pouches that had liquid or sauce
Deflate any bubble packaging (you don’t have to pop every bubble in bubble wrap, but the air pillows/cushions/packing bags need to have the air deflated)
Take off tape and other materials (stickers, glue, staples, labels, etc.)
Recyclable:
Candy wrappers, instant noodle wrapping, and instant coffee packaging with recycling labels
Bubble wrap (main material is LDPE, although some companies may use other materials)
Plastic bags, film-like packaging material
OTHER vinyl is recyclable
Non-recyclable:
Composite materials: unlabeled snack and ramen bags, unmarked candy wrappers
Plastic/shrink/saran wrap (it is PVC)
Any PVC-labeled vinyl
plastic
(플라스틱 / 플라스틱류)
P.E.T. / P.E.T. Bottles
(페트 / 페트병)
There are multiple different types of plastic, but usually only P.E.T. bottles are separated from all other plastics; read the bins!
Tips:
Containers with residue (ex. tteokbokki containers with a red stain) cannot be recycled due to food contamination. Wash them with soap and water and dry them in the sun for a few days. The stain will (usually) disappear.
Remember to remove metal springs from soap pumps.
Squish plastic bottles as much as possible and put caps back on to reduce space.
Take off tape and other materials (stickers, glue, staples, labels, etc.)
Recyclable:
P.E.T., the following are usually P.E.T. containers:
food and beverage containers (Yakult bottles, makgeolli containers, water bottles, milk containers)
soy sauce bottles
edible oil bottles
Shampoo and detergent containers, erasers (yes, the type used to erase pencil), plastic film, fertilizer bags, styrofoam containers (cleaned and uncontaminated), labeled cosmetic containers
Plastic trash cans, buckets, hairbrush/comb (only plastic parts)
Non-recyclable:
PVC and OTHER plastics are not recyclable due to the nature of the plastic, although products do still have a recycling symbol.
PVC (usually): shower curtains, some containers, wire sheaths, plastic pipes
OTHER: urea resin and phenolic resin products, acrylic, nylon; “OTHER” means two or more plastic materials are mixed or other materials are bonded/coated to the plastic
OTHER plastic is non-recyclable, but OTHER vinyl is
Toys (some areas recycle toys, but it is a different process). Try to donate; otherwise, see the “oversized items" section.
Small items: stationary pens, straws, skincare sample caps
Small parts get stuck in the machinery. If it, in any way, can fit through a 3cm x 3cm hole, it is too small to be recycled.
Plastic that does not melt easily: telephones, socket covers, pot handles, electric heaters, buttons, cosmetic containers, tableware ashtrays, trays, etc.
PV/PVC containers: pipes, gutters, flooring, electrical wires
Other: home appliance cases, septic tanks, certain plastic bags; plastics that cannot be separated from other materials
glass
(유리)
All glass goes in the same bin; there is rarely a separate bin for glass bottles (유리병), but it can happen. Read the bins!
Tips:
You can resell some glass bottles at a supermarket for a small amount of money (remove the label and clean the inside); the elderly usually collect these, please make their lives easier by preparing and separating them properly. I put my glass bottles in a sturdy vinyl bag when recycling.
Take off tape and other materials (stickers, glue, staples, labels, etc.)
Recyclable:
Liquor and soda bottles, cups and dishes, some cosmetic containers (with recycling symbol)
Non-recyclable:
Broken glass (wrap it in newspaper, bubble wrap, or multiple plastic bags and put it in the center of your general trash so no one gets injured while handling your waste)
Heat-resistant tableware, mirrors, crystal glass
metal cans
(캔류)
General Metal (캔류)
Aluminum (캔류 알미늄)
Iron (캔류 철)
Multiple different types, but it usually goes in the same bin/area. Please read the bins to see if your apartment complex or officetel/goshiwon wants them separated further.
Recyclable:
Beverage cans (soda/pop, beer)
Spray cans (hairspray, dry shampoo, paint); make sure the entirety of the continents are out of the container first.
Iron tools and wires, aluminum, stainless steel (pots, pans, kitchen tools (if plastic/glass is removed), showerheads/faucets
Butane gas bottle (poke a hole in the container first)
Non-recyclable:
Tin foil
fabric
There is no recycling symbol for fabric. To dispose of fabric, find special bins around your community, in the community center, or in large apartment building clusters. The items that get put into the bins are typically resold; if you want your items to do some good, try donating to a woman’s shelter. I suggest contacting them first to see if it is possible to donate clothing.
What you can put in these bins can sometimes depend on the bin itself; the following is what typically can and cannot be recycled.
Tips:
Make sure to check the pockets of clothing and bags to make sure all of your belongings are removed.
Dispose of old socks, underwear, and bras with regular/combustible trash. I suggest washing underwear and bras before throwing them away. People also tend to put those items in the center of the trash bag inside of an opaque vinyl bag. This is to deter perverts from stealing your bras and underwear… which can and does happen.
Usually recyclable:
Old clothes (jeans, hats, leather clothing), shoes, bags (no wheels)
Bed covers, single duvets, blankets
Dolls
Household carpets, curtains, small rugs/mats
Items must be small enough to fit inside
Usually non-recyclable:
Fabric with rips or stains that cannot be washed
Blankets with animal fur/waste, pet houses/beds
Cotton blankets, cotton pillows, floor cushions
Latex bedding, cool mats, electric and heated blankets, styrofoam mats
Skates, ski shoes
other recyclable items
Batteries: in apartment complexes and officetels/goshiwons, there should be a special bin; if not – or if you live in a villa or house – drop batteries off at your place of work, local community center, or in with your “misc.” recycling items. (If you put all of your recycling items into one bag, put them in there, too).
Fluorescent lights and other light bulbs: in apartment complexes and officetels/goshiwons, there should be a special bin; if not – or if you live in a villa or house – drop them off at your place of work or local community center. Because these products contain glass and mercury, it is dangerous to put in with other recycling items due to pollution.
FOOD WASTE
what happens to food waste?
Korea dries out food waste and uses it as animal feed, compost, fuel, or burns it. Here is a video on food waste in Korea.
this is not food waste
Waste that does not contain its own moisture
Husks (garlic, onions, corn, beans, etc.)
Stems (garlic, onions, corn, beans, peppers, etc.)
Paper-like skins (garlic, onions)
Bones, eggshells, feathers/hair, seafood shells (clams, abalone, sea squirt, crabs, lobsters, shrimp)
Poisonous blowfish intestines
Nutshells (acorns, chestnuts, peanuts, walnuts, coconuts), large seeds (peaches, avocados, apricots, persimmons), pineapple peels
Hard fruit skins (pineapples, etc.)
Overly salty foods like pepper paste and soybean paste
Other: tea bags, tea leaves, herbal medicine residues, food contaminated with soil, overly moldy food (small spots should be fine)
this is food waste
Everything else: “if an animal will eat it, it’s food waste”
Large fruit peels (watermelon) cut into small pieces
Soft fruit skins (tangerines, apples, pears, banana peels (hard top part cut off), etc.)
Raw egg (no shell), fruit and vegetable peels, cooked and uncooked meat
Grains, breads, noodles
cooking oil
Not food waste, but you can recycle it by filtering through a coffee filter. You can reuse oil 2~3 times and it can keep for 2 weeks.
Do NOT dispose of oil down a drain; it will clog.
Apartment complexes may have a cooking oil disposal container; if not, you can bring oil to your community center.
You can buy an oil coagulant to make the oil a solid or put it in a closed container and toss it with general trash.
tips
Remove foreign matter (toothpicks, plastic pieces, etc.)
Freeze your food waste to conserve stickers/bags and reduce the smell, mold, and bugs.
Freeze your food items for general waste (bones, seeds, shells) to reduce the amount of mold and bugs.
DO NOT flush large chunks of food down the toilet; small bits (like the remnants of soup) are fine. Only flush if you know your building’s pipes are in good condition. Most buildings do not have great plumbing.
Reduce the amount of liquid in your food waste before discharging it into your food waste bag; drain the liquid from your food waste bucket.
If you use a bucket, wash your bucket afterward with bleach or soap. Don’t wait more than a few days; mold will grow and you may have some new friends (maggots).
GENERAL TRASH
what is trash?
Everything you cannot recycle (face masks, wooden chopsticks, tissues, paper towels, feminine hygiene products, etc.)
Non-recyclable “Recyclable” items:
Ramen bowls & paper cups (food residue & water-resistant coating cannot be recycled)
Tteokbokki containers (unless you can separate all of the vinyl from the plastic and get the red stains out)
Small plastic items (straws, plastic forks, caps) can get stuck in the recycling machines
Instant rice bowls and flavored milk bottles (mixed plastic)
Fruit and wine packaging, individual styrofoam wrappers (ex. 1)
Contaminated Styrofoam (mold, food waste)
Aluminum attached to containers
Rubber items (gloves, pieces on other containers, hair ties)
Sharp items (knives, broken glass; dispose of by wrapping the item in newspaper, bubble wrap, or multiple plastic bags to keep the item from hurting whoever will handle your trash). I suggest writing “caution” (주의) on whatever you wrap the item in.
combustible vs. non-combustible
Some cities separate combustible and non-combustible waste; these wastes go in different bags. Most cities have the option of separating combustibles, but it is not typical and may be difficult to find.
Combustible waste bags are called 가연성쓰레기 봉투. You can purchase these bags at some supermarkets or your local community center. Not every store will have these available.
Combustible:
general waste (including non-recyclable waste paper, woods, textiles, vinyl, fake leather, plastic, pet waste)
Non-combustible:
metals: paint cans, chemical cans
glass: cosmetic bottles, mirrors, broken glass
porcelain: plant pots, tile pieces
shellfish shells, electrical wires, PVC
tips
For food items you cannot dispose of in food waste, either get a bag or a container to put all food items (bones, shells, seeds) into and freeze. Dispose of this before you take out your trash. This will decrease bugs and mold.
Some people put small parts of food waste in the general trash; if you do this, put it in the middle of your bag. Food crumbs are ok to put in the trash. There are many stray animals in Korea. If you leave too much food in your general trash, an animal may rip open the bag and your trash will scatter.
MISC.
medical waste
Bring your unused medicine to a local pharmacy; they will dispose of it free of charge. For needles, either your pharmacist or doctor should have given you instructions on how to dispose of them; however, if not, you can always bring them to a hospital or doctor’s office. If that specific office does not dispose of needles for some reason, they will tell you where to go.
Not considered medical waste (put in general waste or the correct recycling):
Cleaned medicine bottles, vials, Band-Aids, gauze
Items that have not been in contact with excess amounts of blood
Orthodontic prostheses (with no blood or puss)
Diapers, pads, tissues, nails, excrement from healthy animals (cat litter, puppy pee pads, etc.)
“Medical waste” refers to waste that is likely to cause harm to the human body; typical households do not need to worry about disposing of this type of waste. If you do, your doctor should explain how to dispose of it properly. Typically with medical waste, you should store it for 7 to 15 days before getting rid of it. This is to prevent the spread of disease.
Any item that comes in contact with medical waste is considered medical waste (ex. you have to drain fluid from a surgical wound into a plastic container, that container is now classified as medical waste along with the fluid).
electronics
How to dispose of electronic devices depends on your area; some districts will allow you to simply place small items (like a hairdryer) in a bag on the side of the street with no special sticker, in some areas you need a sticker regardless of size. You can always drop small electronics off at your local community center.
oversized items
(대형 쓰레기)
Some areas have an online application (via the internet or a mobile app). If not, call or visit your local community center to get a sticker. They’ll ask about the size and type of item. If you go in person (and do not speak Korean), take a picture and show them. The community center should be able to gather enough information to give you the proper stickers.
Once you obtain a sticker, place the sticker visibly on the item and leave the item on the side of the street. The waste disposal company will pick it up. The stickers can cost from 1,000 won to 20,000 won depending on the size and type of product.
Typical oversized/special items include:
Suitcases, mirrors, toilet seats, bicycles, toys
Humidifiers, dehumidifiers, air purifiers, wall clocks, fans, speakers, electric blankets, small appliances
All types of furniture and mattresses (including big floor mats used for sleeping)
Musical instruments (including grand pianos)
ceramics
Some areas have a specific recycling bag for ceramics, but most do not. Check your district’s website.
If there is no special bag, double bag the ceramic, label the bag “caution: ceramics” (주의: 세라믹) and place it in the center of your regular trash bag. This is so no one gets cut while handling your trash.
donating & buying used
Stores and apps:
Aladin (알라딘): donate books and CDs. Website (in Korean only). You can purchase items from their store online.
Beautiful Store (아름다운 가게): donate clothing, some household items. Website (in English).
Karrot Market (당근마켓): Website (options in Korean and English) this is an app to buy and sell items within your neighborhood. It can be difficult to use (buy and sell from Korean speakers) if you cannot speak Korean. Some people have been taken advantage of or have been accused of doing something wrong because of miscommunication (Korean people also can be taken advantage of (due to scammers and shitty people), so this is not a foreigner-only experience)).
Facebook Groups and Marketplace: you can find groups on Facebook to buy and sell items from other foreigners in your city. Like Karrot, use with caution. Most groups are private and will make you “apply” to be in them. Search your city’s name and “flea market” or “buy & sell” or “sell & buy” (ex. Seoul flea market).
Note:
The stores listed above do not have physical locations in all areas/cities. They are mostly located in larger cities/areas (Seoul, Gyeonggi, Busan, Daegu, Daejeon, Gwangju, Jeonju, etc.). Check the online website to see which location is closest to you.
CLOSING NOTES
Notes:
If you’ve lived in South Korea for any amount of time, you would have noticed that people do not follow all of the guidelines set by the government and recycling facilities. You will see uncleaned containers, wrappers that shouldn’t be there, and waste in the wrong bins. This does not mean that you shouldn’t try to do it correctly.
Trash and recycling can vary from city to city. Always check your district’s website to make sure you are disposing of the waste properly.
Sometimes, your food waste bucket will get stolen. This has never happened to me personally, but I know plenty of people who have had this happen to them. To prevent this, you can etch your building’s address onto the lid, container, and inside strainer. I do not recommend putting your name or room number, for privacy reasons. Even if you do this, however, sometimes it will still get stolen… but you can always steal it back.
If you have any questions regarding waste disposal, feel free to ask here. I will answer them and edit this guide to include that information.
For a printable guide you can hang above your trash area, click here.
the trash table
Here is a table of random household items that may be confusing on how to recycle and/or dispose of in general/combustible trash. See if there is a recycling symbol on the item first. Some items listed below may be recyclable, as different companies make things with different materials. If an item you are curious about is not listed, let me know or try doing a Naver search of the item in Korean ([item name in Korean] 버리는 법).
CATEGORIES
If separated and cleaned properly, can be recycled
It is difficult to separate and/or clean (but you can try), so it’s general waste
Cannot be recycled, it is general waste
| ITEM | COMPONENTS & WHAT TO DO | NOTES | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | (제습제) |
|
* You can reuse these containers by purchasing your own water-absorbing agent (CaCl2) and gluing another piece of filter paper. A linked guide can be found at the bottom of this table, although it is in Korean. |
(shower, faucet, water) |
|
* It can be difficult to separate, but possible. Use a tool to wedge the top/bottom from the filter. | |
|
* It can be difficult to separate, but possible. | ||
| 2 |
|
||
(like Pringles) |
|
* Be careful when breaking apart this. It can be sharp and dangerous. To remove the bottom from the container, cut the container in half and pull it on it until it becomes loose. |
|
|
|||
| 3 |
|
||
|
|||
|
* Do NOT open these packs. These are the ice packs that come with fresh, refrigerated, and frozen delivery (Coupang, Gmarket). The packaging may have a recycling symbol on it, but DO NOT open or recycle it. Only open the packs if they say "100% 물" (100% water); you can drain the water and recycle the vinyl pouch. Baskin Robbins uses dry ice; leave the dry ice in your sink to evaporate then throw away the fabric-like pouch. | ||
(coffee/tea cups) |
|
* Some companies are making recyclable cups now, but the majority are not recyclable. Please check the labels. | |
|
* Take out any removable batteries. | ||
|
sources used:
"의료폐기물 자율점검 신고". (gangnam.go.kr)
"[분리 수거의 모든 것] '내 손 안의 분리배출' ④플라스틱류". 케미컬뉴스, 2020.12.29
"플라스틱의 분리와 재활용". 오늘 하루도 무사히, 2021.04.07
"인천시, 전국 최초로 플라스틱류 장난감 자원화사업 추진". 김영빈, 2021.05.13
“Categories of Wastes”. ifez Global Center
"Garbage Disposal, Recycling". Korea4Expats, 2021.02.08
"What Goes in Recycling? The Korea Garbage Guide". Melissa, 2018.04.03
"Public struggles to adjust to recycling clear plastic bottles separately from labels". Ko Dong-hwan, 2022.01.05
“바나나껍질 분리수거 일반쓰레기 음식물 뭘까 보관방법까지 체크”. 산적마누라, 2022.03.04
"[생생과학] 편의점 컵 커피 용기, 이제는 재활용할 수 있다". 강은영 (hankookilbo.com), 2019.11.09
"슬리퍼·칫솔 재활용 안 됩니다, 종량제 봉투에 버리세요". 김효인 (chosun.com), 2018.06.28
“헷갈릴 수 있는 재활용 분리수거 방법 총정리!”. 조성현, 류경민 (충북대학교), 2021.08.18
"[해랑] 해운대구, 올바른 분리수거 재활용 Tip". 해운대구, 2021.04.20
“음식물 쓰레기? 일반쓰레기? 헷갈리는 재활용 분리수거 완벽정리”. (kyobolifeblog.co.kr)
“일회용 플라스틱 컵 열심히 재활용 했지만 결국 쓰레기로…”. 가늘고길게, 2020.07.03
"배달음식 일회용 용기 재활용 FM 처리 방법". PN풍년, 2021.06.25
“[도와줘요 쓰레기박사] OTHER 비닐도 재활용이 안되나요?”. 서울환경연합, 2021.05.18
