Guide · LIV · 101
Trash & recycling
Bags, food waste, sorting, and how to avoid fines.
In short
- Korea uses a pay-as-you-throw system (종량제). General waste must go in official district-issued bags. A regular plastic bag won't be collected.
- Four streams: general waste (paid bag), food waste (separate!), recycling (free, sorted), and bulky items (special sticker).
- Bags are district-specific. A Mapo-gu bag can't be used in Gangnam-gu. Buy them at a convenience store near your home so you get the right ones.
- The rules are enforced. Trash in the wrong bag gets left with a warning sticker, and illegal dumping fines start around ₩100,000. CCTV is used to check.
Most newcomers make a few mistakes with trash at first. Korea's waste system is one of the strictest in the world (recycling is over 60% nationally), and following it is required by law. Once you know the four types of waste, it gets easy.
The four streams
| Stream | What & how |
|---|---|
| General waste (일반쓰레기) | Non-recyclable, non-food (tissues, hygiene products, dirty wrappers). Must go in an official 종량제 봉투 (volume bag) for your district. The bag price = your disposal fee. |
| Food waste (음식물) | Anything an animal could eat, because it's turned into feed/compost. Separate small bag (often yellow) or an RFID bin that weighs it. Never mix with general waste. |
| Recycling (분리수거) | Clean paper, plastic, cans, glass, PET, vinyl, sorted by material into bins. Free, no paid bag needed. |
| Bulky items (대형폐기물) | Furniture, appliances, mattresses. Buy a special sticker (from your 구청 site or local mart) and attach it. These can't go out with regular trash. |
What counts as food waste
Food waste becomes animal feed, so ask yourself: could an animal eat it comfortably? If it would need cooking or grinding first, it goes in general waste. These often end up in food waste by mistake, but they're general waste:
- Bones & shells: chicken/pork bones, clam/oyster/crab shells, eggshells
- Hard bits: walnut/chestnut/peanut shells, peach/apricot pits
- Tough veg: onion/garlic skins, corn husks, chili seeds/stems
- Other: tea bags, toothpicks, large amounts of coffee grounds
Recycling
Everything must be clean and dry, or it gets rejected. The main rules for 2026:
- PET bottles: remove the plastic label (it's a separate material → vinyl), take off the cap, rinse, crush flat. Clear PET often has its own bin.
- Delivery containers: wash out the sauce/grease. If a red-sauce stain won't come out, it's no longer recyclable → general waste.
- Vinyl (비닐): ramen packets, snack bags, plastic wrap. Collect these separately in a clear bag.
- Cardboard: remove tape and delivery labels, flatten. Greasy pizza-box parts go to general waste.
- Clothes: don't put them in the trash. Use the green donation bins (의류수거함) in alleys/complexes.
The district-bag rule
General-waste and food-waste bags are printed with a district (구/군) name and only work there. Buy them at a convenience store (CU, GS25, 7-Eleven) or mart in your own district. Ask for "쓰레기 봉투" (trash bag) and a size (10L or 20L is common; a 20L is usually under ₩600). If you move districts, don't throw away leftover bags. Take them to your new 주민센터 for a validation sticker (증지) to make them legal.
When & where to put it out
- Apartments (아파트): easiest. There are shared waste stations, often 24/7, with RFID food bins. Follow the building's signage.
- Villas / studios (빌라/원룸): a bit harder. There's usually a set spot out front, and you can only put trash out at certain times.
- Timing: many districts only allow disposal after ~8–9 PM, the night before collection. Putting it out too early risks torn bags, complaints and fines. Check your building notice or 구청 site.
Common questions
Can I use a normal plastic bag for general waste?
No. It must be the official 종량제 봉투 for your district, or it won't be collected (and you may be fined). The bag's price is the disposal fee.
Where do chicken bones go?
General waste, not food waste. Anything an animal can't comfortably eat (bones, shells) is general waste.
Why are there no bins on the street?
Public bins are rare on purpose. Carry a small bag and dispose at subway stations, convenience stores where you bought the item, or back home.
How do I throw out furniture?
Buy a bulky-waste sticker from your 구청 website or a local mart, attach it, and put the item out at the designated spot. Small electronics often have free drop-off bins.
Sources: Korean 종량제 (Volume-Based Waste Fee) system, district (구청) waste guides (e.g. Yeongdeungpo-gu, Jung-gu), and current foreigner recycling guidance. Rules vary by district and are updated periodically.
Last verified: July 2026. Bag types, colors, times and fines differ by district, so confirm your specific 구/군 rules with your landlord, building manager, or 주민센터. General information, not legal advice.
Confused about sorting?
Ask others in your district what goes where. Post in the community and tag it Living.