H. Yoo
Research expert covering South Korea
The implementation of China’s waste import ban in 2017 heavily impacted South Korea’s relationship with trash, pushing it to actively control the accumulation of its domestically produced waste rather than sending it abroad. In the years that followed, the country banned plastic bags, single-use straws, and paper cups from large retail stores, convenience stores, cafés, and restaurants. Households have long been required to properly separate and recycle waste or face a fine, and the significant difference in the actual recycling rate between mixed and separated waste reflects the importance of these efforts. As of 2022, South Korea’s domestic waste recycling rate stood at around 60 percent.
Food waste recycling in South Korea
Notably, South Korea has some of the highest food waste recycling rates in the world, having reached around 98 percent in 2022. Food waste is a particular area of focus in the country’s waste processing and recycling infrastructure. South Korean cuisine centers around banchan, or small seasoned or fermented side dishes, which are provided at almost every restaurant and delivery service. Much of this food is often left uneaten, leaving food waste with every serving and increasing the risk of soil contamination if left untreated. As the country has developed over the years, waste processing companies have found an opportunity in this market, helping recycle a large majority of the country’s food waste into fertilizer, animal feed, or biofuel.Tourism and waste processing infrastructure
Domestically, regions vary in the circumstances impacting their recycling rates. One such area is the provincial island of Jeju, which has the highest municipal waste produced per person among the major regions of South Korea. Its popularity as a tourist destination is a significant strain on the island's existing waste processing and recycling installations, with waste leaking into coastal areas and creating marine litter. To curb this, the number of companies licensed or permitted to report waste recycling activity in the country has increased, with over 1,000 added between 2017 and 2022. The long-term prospects of South Korea’s resource circulation capabilities will likely be determined by both the continued growth in waste processing infrastructure and growing public awareness about sustainability.
