Why This Matters
Korea has strict waste disposal rules enforced with real fines. Violating trash regulations or illegal dumping can result in fines up to 1,000,000 KRW. Mixing general and food waste can also trigger additional penalties that accumulate with each violation. Rules may vary slightly by district.
General Waste
Household waste must be placed in designated standard plastic garbage bags (์ข ๋์ ๋ดํฌ), available at supermarkets and convenience stores. Prices vary by district and bag size. The fee built into the bag price funds waste processing and encourages recycling.
Disposal schedule: from sunset to midnight, on the designated day for your area (check with your building manager or district office).
Location: in front of your building or at the designated spot. For apartments, use the waste container within the complex.
Food Waste (์์๋ฌผ ์ฐ๋ ๊ธฐ)
Leftovers and food waste generated before and after cooking must be separated from general waste.
Disposal methods depend on your building type:
- Detached residences and buildings with fewer than 20 households: use a designated 25L food waste container.
- Multi-unit buildings with 20+ households: use the complex designated 120L food waste container. Fees are added to monthly management charges.
- Apartments with food waste machines: pay by traffic card at the machine.
Schedule: on the designated day of the week, by 10:00 PM.
Items NOT Classified as Food Waste
These go in regular garbage bags, not food waste:
- Fruit shells: walnut, chestnut, peanut, acorn, coconut shells, pineapple peels, large fruit seeds (apricot, persimmon)
- Meat: bones and feathers
- Seafood: clam, conch, abalone, cockle, oyster, lobster shells, blowfish innards
- Others: tea bags, herbal powder, onion skin, red pepper paste
Recyclable Waste
Separate recyclable items by material and place them in the designated area in front of your house or in the recycling zone of your apartment complex. Each district has its own collection day โ put items out from sunset to midnight on that day.
What Can Be Recycled
- Paper: newspapers, books, notebooks, wrapping paper, corrugated cardboard, paper bags, paper boxes
- Glass: beer/soju bottles, soda bottles, glass items with recycling symbol
- Metal: drink cans, spray cans, aluminum, stainless steel flatware, tools
- Styrofoam: foam buffers for appliances, fish/fruit transport containers, clean cup noodle containers
- Plastic: items marked PET, HDPE, LDPE, PP, PS, or OTHER
- Vinyl: vinyl bags, instant noodle packages, items marked with recycling symbols
- Milk cartons: separate from paper
- Fluorescent lamps: unbroken only
What Cannot Be Recycled
- Vinyl-coated paper bags or paper cups
- Plate glass, mirrors, heat-resistant dinnerware, cream-colored glass
- Paint cans, oil barrels, hazardous substance containers
- Pens, toys, baby walkers, telephones, disposable cameras
- Dirty vinyl bags
- Broken fluorescent lamps
Transparent PET Bottles
Since December 25, 2020, transparent PET bottles (water, beverages) must be disposed of separately from general plastic products (colored PET bottles, disposable cups, etc.) in Seoul multi-unit buildings.
Bulky Waste (๋ํํ๊ธฐ๋ฌผ)
Items too large for standard garbage bags โ furniture, home appliances, etc. โ require a separate disposal process.
How to dispose:
- Online: Visit your district office website, click "Report Disposal of Bulky Waste," select the item, enter disposal date and location, pay the fee, print the receipt, and attach it to the item.
- In person: Visit your local community service center, complete the disposal report, receive a receipt, and attach it to the item.
Fees vary by district and item. Dumping bulky waste illegally can result in a fine up to 200,000 KRW.
Home Appliances Disposal (Free)
Large appliances (TV, refrigerator, washing machine, air conditioner) that are 1 meter or taller can be collected for free. Book online at the Home Appliances Disposal Center (1599-0903, www.15990903.or.kr). Business hours: weekdays 6:00 AM - 6:00 PM.
Small Home Appliances
33 types of small appliances (cell phones, irons, vacuums, etc.) can be disposed of for free on your area's recyclable waste collection day. Cell phones can be dropped into Green Boxes at community centers or Woori Bank branches.
Fluorescent Lamps and Batteries
Do not mix these with general waste. Each community service center has recycling boxes for hazardous waste. Contact your center to find the nearest recycling box location.
Clothing Disposal
- Clothing drop boxes: find one in your neighborhood (detached houses) or next to recycling bins (apartments)
- Donation: Beautiful Store (www.beautifulstore.org), Salvation Army Thrift Store (www.nanumistore.org)