Garbage Disposal

For any new resident in Korea, a few days into their new life, they find themselves facing a pressing and urgent question. Where do I put all my garbage? Turns out, the answer is much more complicated than might be expected, with an array of different requirements for different types of garbage and different types of residences.

General Garbage

General, non-food waste, non-recyclable garbage goes into a special garbage bag which you’ll need to buy.

• They are easily purchased at supermarkets and local marts – ask for 쓰레기봉투 “sseu-re-gi bong-tu”.
• Bags come in various sizes in semi-transparent colors for each district e.g. Buk-gu: orange, Dong-gu: purple, Nam-gu: yellow, Seo-gu: white, Gwangsan-gu: pink. You must buy the correct color for your district.

*size and price vary for each district.

• Fill the garbage bags with a declared amount and tie the top of the bag twice in the shape of a cross (+)
• Double check the district specified on the garbage bag (each district uses different bags)

Food Waste

Apartment

• dispose of food waste in the communal food-waste bin inside your apartment complex

Private Residences

• you need to get a special food-waste bucket, available from the supermarket near your home
• buy the food-waste sticker and put it on the basket. It’s available at supermarkets and small stores, ask for 음식물스티커 “um-shik-mul seu-ti-koh”
• Sticker costs about 6,000 won and you need a new one every month.

Recycling Garbage

-       Separate recycling waste by type

• Non-recyclable items include shoes, electric rice cooker, electric home appliance, cookie containers, videotape, medicine bottle, hula hoop, delivery water container, clock, window frame, PVC pipe, toy, bag, oil paper for floor, medical items, blanket etc.
• For apartments, use the communal box or basket on the designated place for recycling inside your apartment complex. You do not need to use a standard garbage bag
• For private residences, sort recycling by type and place in an ordinary plastic bag. Place bag outside house for collection.
• Items mixed with general waste will not be collected.

Hours and Place (for private residences)

• Place garbage outside residence between 8 p.m. – 4 a.m.
• Garbage will be taken away before sunrise.
• Dong-gu: Mon-Sat (general waste), Mon-Sat (recycling waste), every other day (food waste)
• Buk-gu: Mon, Wed, Thu, Sat (general waste), Mon, Wed, Thu, Sat (recycling waste), Mon-Sat (food waste)
• Seo-gu: Mon-Sat (general waste), Mon-Sat (recycling waste), Mon-Sat (food waste)
• Nam-gu: Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat (general waste), Wed (recycling waste), Mon-Sat (food waste)
• Gwangsan-gu: Mon-Sat (general waste), designated place (recycling waste), every other day (food waste)

Large Waste

• Large waste refers to items that cannot fit into standard garbage bags, such as furniture, electric home appliances, beds, office machines, computers etc
• Notify the local dong office or district office -  office staff will visit next day - double check the item - buy sticker and place on item - district office will collect.
• Each district office charges fees for collecting large waste items. For example

For more information: 971-0243, 510-1336