Separating recycling
Recycling needs no pay-as-you-throw bag — but it must be properly separated.
Four principles
- Empty the contents.
- Rinse with water. Food residue makes it unrecyclable.
- Separate different materials such as labels and caps.
- Don't mix — sort by type.
Types
- Paper — flatten boxes with tape and labels removed. Receipts and coated paper are general waste.
- Plastic — remove PET bottle labels, crush and cap.
- Cans and metal — empty and rinse.
- Glass bottles — soju and beer bottles carry a deposit refund at supermarkets.
- Vinyl — clean only. With food residue it is general waste.
- Styrofoam — remove tape and stickers, keep clean.
Disposed separately
- Batteries and fluorescent lamps — bins at community centres and apartments
- Unused medicine — pharmacies or health centres. Never down the toilet.
- Old appliances — free collection for large items; ask your district office.
- Clothing — clothing collection bins
Where to go
- The cleaning and environment department of your city or district
- Your apartment's management office
- 120 (Seoul) or your local main number
- 1345 · 1577-1366 interpretation
Questions people ask
What about greasy delivery containers? Rinse and put with plastics. If they won't come clean, general waste (pay-as-you-throw bag).
Delivery boxes? Remove tape and address labels, flatten, and put with paper.
How do I throw out an appliance? Large items like fridges and washing machines qualify for free home collection. Ask your district office.
What do I do with leftover medicine? Put it in the medicine collection box at a pharmacy or health centre. Down the drain it harms the environment.
Take care
Broken glass, ceramics and mirrors are not recyclable. Wrap in newspaper, mark it as broken glass, and put it in a pay-as-you-throw bag — collectors can be injured.
Related
garbage-rules · food-waste · apartment-rules
Source
Ministry of Environment www.me.go.kr / As of 2026-08