Korea charges for trash by volume: general waste must go in official paid bags (종량제봉투) sold for your district, food waste goes in separate food bags or bins, and recyclables are sorted and put out for free. Rules, days and times are set by each city and district (구), so check your district office website or ask your building manager in your first week.
Key facts
| General waste | Official volume-rate bag for your district, sold at convenience stores and supermarkets |
| Food waste | Separate food waste bag, sticker or RFID bin |
| Recyclables | Free; sorted by type into clear bags or bins |
| Large items | Pay a fee and book a pickup with your district |
| When | Set by your district, often evening on set days; apartments have their own area |
| Fines | ₩50,000 to ₩500,000 for typical illegal dumping, up to ₩1 million under the law |
The four streams
1. General waste (일반쓰레기) in volume-rate bags
Anything that is not food or recyclable goes in a 종량제봉투 (volume-rate bag). Bags come in sizes such as 5, 10, 20, 50 and 75 liters, and the price differs by district. A bag bought in one district may not be accepted in another, so buy where you live. Tie the bag and put it at your building’s collection point on the right day.
Typical general waste: dirty plastic, tissues, diapers, broken ceramics (small amounts), pens, toothbrushes, and food waste that animals cannot eat (see below).
2. Food waste (음식물쓰레기)
Food waste is recycled into animal feed or compost, so it is collected separately. Depending on where you live you use:
- Food waste bags (음식물 종량제봉투) bought for your district, emptied into a bin outside;
- a sticker or tag on a food waste bucket; or
- an RFID bin in apartments, opened by a card and charged by weight.
Drain liquid and remove packaging. These are not food waste and go in general waste:
- Bones of chicken, pork, beef and fish
- Shells of clams, oysters, crabs and other shellfish
- Eggshells
- Onion skins, pepper seeds, corn husks and cobs
- Hard fruit pits (peach, apricot) and walnut or chestnut shells
- Tea bags
The simple test: "Could an animal eat it?" If not, it is general waste. Seoul unified these rules across its districts, but small differences remain elsewhere.
3. Recyclables (재활용품)
Recyclables are free to throw out but must be empty, rinsed and sorted. Put them out in a clear plastic bag or in the labeled bins of your building.
| Type | Korean | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Paper | 종이 | Flatten boxes, remove tape. Receipts and coated paper are general waste. |
| Paper cartons | 종이팩 | Milk and juice cartons, rinsed, separate from paper where possible |
| Plastic | 플라스틱 | Containers marked PP, PE, PS, PET. Remove food. |
| Clear PET bottles | 투명 페트병 | Remove label and cap, crush, put out separately from other plastic |
| Vinyl and film | 비닐 | Clean plastic bags and wrappers, in their own bag |
| Cans and metal | 캔 · 고철 | Empty spray cans first |
| Glass bottles | 유리병 | Remove caps. Broken glass, mirrors and ceramics are not recyclable glass. |
| Styrofoam | 스티로폼 | Clean, white, tape and labels removed |
Some glass beverage bottles carry a refundable deposit you can get back at supermarkets.
4. Special items
- Large items (대형폐기물) such as furniture, mattresses and appliances: book online on your district website or app, pay a fee based on size, attach the receipt or sticker, and put it out on the date. Some large appliances are collected free through the national appliance pickup service (폐가전 무상방문수거).
- Batteries and fluorescent lamps: special boxes at community centers (주민센터) and many apartments.
- Old medicines: pharmacies and community centers often have collection boxes.
- Clothes and shoes: clothing collection bins (의류수거함) on the street.
- Construction waste: small amounts of tile or debris need special bags (불연성 마대) from your district.
When and where to put trash out
- Apartments: a fixed recycling area, often open all week, with set recycling days in some complexes.
- Villas, one-rooms and houses: put bags in front of your building or at the designated spot, usually in the evening, on the days your district sets. Putting trash out at the wrong time or place can be treated as illegal dumping.
Check your district’s English page or the notice board in your building. Ask your landlord which day recyclables go out.
Fines
Under the Waste Control Act (폐기물관리법), illegal dumping can be fined up to ₩1 million. Common amounts in district schedules:
| Violation | Typical fine |
|---|---|
| Cigarette butts or tissues | ₩50,000 |
| Trash in a non-official bag (e.g., a supermarket bag) | ₩200,000 |
| Dumping using a car or cart | ₩500,000 |
Districts use CCTV and inspect unsorted bags for names and addresses. A bag left with a red warning sticker means it was rejected; fix it and put it out again.
Common questions
Where do I buy the bags?
At convenience stores, supermarkets and some marts, by saying “종량제봉투 주세요” and the size (e.g., “10리터”). Food waste bags are sold the same way.
What do I do with trash when I move out?
Sort and put it out properly before you leave, and book large items early. Landlords can deduct cleanup costs from your deposit.
Is it okay to put pizza boxes in paper?
Only if they are clean. Greasy or food-stained parts go in general waste.
My building has no recycling area. Where do recyclables go?
Usually at the same street collection point as general waste, in a clear bag, on the recycling day. Ask your neighbors or landlord which day it is.
Official sources
This guide explains the general rules as of the date above. Rules change and every case is different, so confirm with the office named here (or the 1345 Immigration Contact Center) before an important decision. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.