Last updated 2022.04.21
Garbage & Recycling
There are four main categories of waste:
In Korea, there is no direct fee for garbage collection. Instead, funding comes from the sale of garbage bags that are color-coded by waste category and usable in only one district, the district in which they were purchased. In Seoul, food/wet garbage bags (음식물 쓰레기 봉투) are typically yellow with black lettering. Regular garbage bags (일반 쓰레기 봉투) are typically white or pink with black lettering. Recyclables typically can be placed in any bag; you do need to purchase separate bags for recyclables.
Tip: If you purchase a pink grocery bag from a store to cart home your groceries, the bag usually also serves as a regular garbage bag for the district in which the grocery store lies.
Garbage bags come in many sizes based on liters (1L, 2L, 5L, 10L, 20L, etc.). They can typically be purchased in convenience stores, grocery stores, etc. Depending on the store, bags may be on display, or they may only be available by request at the register when you checkout.
Please be diligent about separating and disposing your garbage and recyclables properly.
Food waste (음식물 쓰레기)
Korea separates food waste from regular garbage, but not all waste from food is "food waste". In general, only food that could be fed to livestock should be thrown away as food waste. As such, animal bones, eggshells, crustacean (crab, lobster, shrimp, etc.) and clam shells, nut shells, onion and garlic skins, tea bags, tea leaves and diapers should be placed in regular garbage bags, and not with the food waste.
Your apartment building may have one collective food trash bin, you may have to buy a food waste bucket to place outside, or you may need to drop off food waste in yellow bags to a set collection spot. Food collection days vary, so check with your landlord. For more information about disposing of food waste, visit the IBS Living in Korea website.
Tip: Keep food waste in a closed container, or in the freezer, until you are ready to throw it out. This prevents unpleasant odors and the breeding of fruit flies and other pests.
Regular Garbage (일반 쓰레기)
For regular garbage, you will need to purchase city/district garbage bags. Ask your landlord when collection days are for regular garbage and where the collection spot is located. There may be a communal bin for the apartment building, or garbage may need to be placed in a set spot near the street.
Large Objects
In Korea, you CANNOT simply leave your unwanted furniture and other large unwanted items outside; you must buy a special sticker for the items, put them outside, and contact a company to pick them up. Contact your landlord for more information. Large items include: furniture, large appliances, and basically anything else that can't fit in a regular trash bag.
Recycling (재활용품)
Recycling does NOT require special bags. If you live in a larger apartment complex, your building may have designated, labeled recycling bins outside. Recyclable items should be cleaned of all food and other residue before disposal. Recycling is categorized into the following types:
Recycling Paper (종이)
Recycling Plastic (플라스틱)
Recycling Glass (Bottles) - 유리 (병)
※ Be careful not to break any glass, or to mix broken glass in with other trash
※ NO sheet glass, mirrors, heat-resistant dishes, milky white bottles, cosmetic bottles, china dishes
Recycling Cans (Iron, Aluminum) - 캔 (철, 얼미늄)
Recycling Metals (고철)
※ You can disassemble umbrellas, chairs, etc. and recycle the metal parts
※ NO paint and oil containers, or any toxic material containers
Recycling Clothing (의류)
Recycling Vinyl (Plastic Bags) (비닐)
- Food waste
- Regular garbage
- Large waste items
- Recycling
In Korea, there is no direct fee for garbage collection. Instead, funding comes from the sale of garbage bags that are color-coded by waste category and usable in only one district, the district in which they were purchased. In Seoul, food/wet garbage bags (음식물 쓰레기 봉투) are typically yellow with black lettering. Regular garbage bags (일반 쓰레기 봉투) are typically white or pink with black lettering. Recyclables typically can be placed in any bag; you do need to purchase separate bags for recyclables.
Tip: If you purchase a pink grocery bag from a store to cart home your groceries, the bag usually also serves as a regular garbage bag for the district in which the grocery store lies.
Garbage bags come in many sizes based on liters (1L, 2L, 5L, 10L, 20L, etc.). They can typically be purchased in convenience stores, grocery stores, etc. Depending on the store, bags may be on display, or they may only be available by request at the register when you checkout.
Please be diligent about separating and disposing your garbage and recyclables properly.
Food waste (음식물 쓰레기)
Korea separates food waste from regular garbage, but not all waste from food is "food waste". In general, only food that could be fed to livestock should be thrown away as food waste. As such, animal bones, eggshells, crustacean (crab, lobster, shrimp, etc.) and clam shells, nut shells, onion and garlic skins, tea bags, tea leaves and diapers should be placed in regular garbage bags, and not with the food waste.
Your apartment building may have one collective food trash bin, you may have to buy a food waste bucket to place outside, or you may need to drop off food waste in yellow bags to a set collection spot. Food collection days vary, so check with your landlord. For more information about disposing of food waste, visit the IBS Living in Korea website.
Tip: Keep food waste in a closed container, or in the freezer, until you are ready to throw it out. This prevents unpleasant odors and the breeding of fruit flies and other pests.
Regular Garbage (일반 쓰레기)
For regular garbage, you will need to purchase city/district garbage bags. Ask your landlord when collection days are for regular garbage and where the collection spot is located. There may be a communal bin for the apartment building, or garbage may need to be placed in a set spot near the street.
Large Objects
In Korea, you CANNOT simply leave your unwanted furniture and other large unwanted items outside; you must buy a special sticker for the items, put them outside, and contact a company to pick them up. Contact your landlord for more information. Large items include: furniture, large appliances, and basically anything else that can't fit in a regular trash bag.
Recycling (재활용품)
Recycling does NOT require special bags. If you live in a larger apartment complex, your building may have designated, labeled recycling bins outside. Recyclable items should be cleaned of all food and other residue before disposal. Recycling is categorized into the following types:
Recycling Paper (종이)
- Newspapers (tie into bunches less than 30cm thick)
- Books, notebooks, paper shopping bags, calendars (remove plastic coverings, notebook springs, etc. before disposal)
- Milk and juice boxes, paper cups (dry before disposal)
- Boxes (snack, pizza and chicken boxes, corrugated cardboard; if not overly covered in oil or other food waste)
Recycling Plastic (플라스틱)
- PET bottles (beverages, beer, water, soy sauce, etc.)
- PE (big bowls, baskets)
- Synthetic resins (shampoo bottles, detergent containers, yogurt containers, makkeoli bottles, etc.)
- Big bowls (rubber flower pot type things)
- Fertilizer sacks, PVC pipes, styrofoam
- Anything that has a PET, HDPE, LDPE, PP, PS, PVC, or OTHER recycling logo
Recycling Glass (Bottles) - 유리 (병)
- Beer, Soju, soft drinks, other drinks, etc.
※ Be careful not to break any glass, or to mix broken glass in with other trash
※ NO sheet glass, mirrors, heat-resistant dishes, milky white bottles, cosmetic bottles, china dishes
Recycling Cans (Iron, Aluminum) - 캔 (철, 얼미늄)
- Iron and aluminum (cans used for food and beverages)
- Other cans (Butane gas cans, pesticide cans).
Recycling Metals (고철)
- Scrap iron (tools, iron plates)
- Non-ferrous metals (nickel-silver, stainless steel, wires, aluminum, window sashes)
※ You can disassemble umbrellas, chairs, etc. and recycle the metal parts
※ NO paint and oil containers, or any toxic material containers
Recycling Clothing (의류)
- Clothing
- Other non-clothing items (carpet, leather bags, dress shoes, blankets and comforters, diaper covers)
Recycling Vinyl (Plastic Bags) (비닐)
- Single use plastic bags. This includes the black plastic bags you get when buying food on the street as well as the clear bags you get when buying fruit and vegetables in the stores. It also includes the plastic that's used to secure fruits, vegetables, and side dishes to styrofoam plates.
- Snack bags, etc.