Waste Management in South Korea

Cheryl · 2024-02-21T07:11:41+01:00

Explore waste management practices in South Korea, including sorting methods, recycling programs, and compliance tips tailored for expats.

Cheryl Moderator

Member since 15 October 2018

CherylModerator21 February 2024 05:11:41

13875

Hello everyone,

As an expat in South Korea, waste management can often pose challenges and requires an understanding of local standards and regulations. Understanding local practices is essential for environmental compliance and seamless integration into daily life.

Here are some points to share your experience:

How can you learn about waste management in South Korea (types of waste collected, sorting, collection days, recycling, bulky items, etc.)? Do local authorities provide information on waste management to newcomers?

What are the main differences you've noticed compared to your home country in terms of waste management? How have you adapted?

Are there recycling programs, composting initiatives, or other eco-friendly alternatives to reduce waste in South Korea? What personal initiatives can be implemented?

How are hazardous waste items such as batteries, household chemicals, or electronic equipment managed?

What actions are taken to encourage compliance with regulations (rewards, penalties, taxes, etc.)?

If you have any other relevant information to share about waste management, please do not hesitate!

Thank you for your contribution.

The 禁漫天堂 Team

BenArnold4u Member

Member since 03 February 2020

BenArnold4uMember07 March 2024 22:04:43

One of my friends recently was so frustrated because the pickup crew refused to collect my friend's waste, two weeks in a row, putting a warning/explanation sticker on the item, which was written in the native language and so my friend didn't know what it said. Finally by the third week my friend's fear of having to deal with that waste any longer finally compelled my friend to call the local government to ask what was the problem and they translated the sticker which said that my friend was using the wrong container for that particular type of item. In Korea the trash is separated into different categories and each category has a special container, or tag, to differentiate how each item is processed, for example food goes one place, plastic goes another, and so on. It was funny because my friend was just being lazy and could've called the city government, or asked a neighbor or native friend to translate the sticker, and instead held onto that trash for two weeks before doing the right thing and asking around. It's really nice that Korea is very dedicated to recycling. But it is a little extra work for everyone. And is a little bit of a learning curve.