Garbage Disposal & Recycling in Korea

General household waste must go into designated fee-included bags (종량제 봉투). These are available at supermarkets, convenience stores (편의점), and stationary shops.

Bag sizes: 5L, 10L, 20L, 50L, 100L. Buy the right size — overfilling is a violation.

Each district (구) issues its own bags, so make sure you buy bags for the correct 구. If you move to a different district, the old bags will not be accepted.

Fine for using unauthorized bags: up to 300,000 KRW.

Food waste must be separated from general trash. This is strictly enforced in Korea. Options vary by building:

• Yellow food waste bags (음식물 종량제 봉투) — purchased at convenience stores, usually 100–300 KRW per bag • RFID food waste bins — common in newer apartment complexes. You register your card and pay by weight (usually around 5–10 KRW per 100g) • Fixed-fee communal bins — some older buildings have shared bins; the cost is included in maintenance fees

Note: Bones, shells, fruit pits, and toothpicks are NOT food waste — they go in general trash bags.

Recyclables are sorted and placed in designated bins (분리수거함), usually found in apartment lobbies or designated outdoor areas. You do NOT need special bags for recyclables.

Common categories: • 종이 (Paper) — cardboard, newspapers, paper bags. Remove tape and staples • 플라스틱 (Plastic) — rinse containers. Remove labels where possible • 캔 (Cans) — rinse and flatten if possible • 유리병 (Glass) — rinse, remove caps • 스티로폼 (Styrofoam) — keep separate from plastic; clean before disposal • 비닐 (Vinyl/Film plastic) — shopping bags, wrap. This is a separate category from hard plastic

Large items like furniture, mattresses, and appliances cannot go in regular trash bags. You must:

1. Purchase a large waste disposal sticker (대형 폐기물 스티커) from your 주민센터 or online 2. Attach it to the item 3. Leave it at the designated collection point on the specified day

The sticker price varies by item — a mattress might cost 3,000–15,000 KRW, a washing machine 10,000–30,000 KRW.

For electronics (TVs, computers, appliances), many are collected for free. Check the 한국전자제품자원순환공제조합 (KERC) website or call 1599-0903 to schedule a free pickup.

Trash collection times vary by district, but the general rule is: put it out in the evening for overnight collection (typically after 8–9 PM).

Do NOT put trash out in the morning for morning collection — this is a common mistake newcomers make, and early-morning trash is often not collected and may result in a complaint from neighbors.

In apartment complexes, follow the building-specific schedule posted in elevators or lobby notice boards.