๐ช How to Throw Away Trash in Korea (Without Losing Your Mind!)
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| A confused foreigner holding various trash bags in a Korean apartment complex, with labeled bins for general, food waste, and recycling. |
If you're new to Korea, one of the most unexpected challenges you'll face is throwing away trash. What sounds simple can actually be one of the most confusing parts of daily life for foreigners.
From color-coded bags to specific disposal rules by district, here's a complete guide to navigating Korea's trash and recycling system without losing your mind.
๐ The Basics of Korea's Trash System
Korea follows a volume-based waste fee system (VBWF), known locally as ์ข ๋์ ๋ดํฌ. That means you pay for the amount of trash you generate, and you MUST use designated bags sold by the government.
There are generally 4 types of waste:
| Type | Bag or Method | Description |
|---|---|---|
| ๐ฎ General Waste (์ผ๋ฐ์ฐ๋ ๊ธฐ) | Paid trash bag (white or yellow) | Anything that isn't recyclable or food waste |
| ๐ง Food Waste (์์๋ฌผ ์ฐ๋ ) | Orange bag or bin | Food scraps, bones (check local rules!) |
| ♻️ Recyclables (์ฌํ์ฉ) | Transparent bag or bin | Plastic, cans, paper, glass, etc. |
| ๐ ️ Oversized Waste | Pickup sticker | Furniture, appliances, etc. (requires separate request) |
๐ Where to Buy Trash Bags
Trash bags are specific to your district (๊ตฌ) and sold at:
๐ช Convenience stores (GS25, CU, 7-Eleven)
๐ฉ Supermarkets (Homeplus, Emart)
๐ด Small neighborhood stores
Make sure to buy the right bag for your residence district. They will be labeled by area (e.g., "Gangnam-gu") and usage type.
๐ฅ Food Waste: A Category of Its Own
Must be drained of liquid
No shells, bones, tissues (varies by region!)
Disposed in orange bags or designated bins
Some apartments use RFID scales to weigh food waste
♻️ How to Sort Recyclables
| Item | Yes | No |
| Plastic | Bottles, trays (clean) | Dirty food containers |
| Paper | Boxes, flyers | Pizza boxes (if greasy) |
| Glass | Bottles (no caps) | Broken glass |
| Cans | Rinsed soda cans | Food cans with residue |
Tip: Rinse all recyclables before disposal. Labels can stay unless asked to remove.
๐ก Apartment vs. One-room Differences
| Housing Type | What to Know |
| ๐ Apartment (APT) | Has designated sorting area or trash room. Signs usually in Korean only. |
| � One-Room (Officetel) | Trash bins may be on street corner or back alley. Fewer instructions, more confusion. |
Tip: Ask your landlord or neighbor where and how to dispose of trash correctly.
๐ What About Bulky Waste?
Furniture, electronics, and large items can't be thrown away normally.
Steps:
Visit local district website and apply for ์๊ฑฐ ์ ์ฒญ
Pay a small fee online or at convenience store
Print or receive a disposal sticker and attach it to the item
Leave it in the designated spot
๐ซ Common Mistakes to Avoid
Throwing everything into one bag
Using bags from the wrong district
Not sorting food waste or recyclables properly
Dumping oversized items without a sticker (you can be fined!)
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