1. Why Are There So Few Public Street Trash Cans?
International travelers frequently notice that public trash bins are rare along Korean streets. In 1995, South Korea enacted the landmark Volume-Rate Waste Disposal System (Jongnyangje) to eliminate illegal household dumping on streets, achieving one of the highest municipal recycling rates in the world (over 65%).
2. What Travelers Should Do with Everyday Waste
- Subway Stations: Every subway exit turnstile area features sorted recycling bins divided into General Waste (*Ilban Ssseuregi*), Plastic (*Peullaseutik*), and Paper (*Jongi*).
- Convenience Stores & Takeaway Spots: Return takeaway cups and snack wrappers to the sorting bins inside or outside the convenience store where you purchased them.
- Carry a Small Pocket Bag: Keep a small plastic bag in your daypack to hold candy wrappers, wet tissues, and empty beverage containers until you reach a transit station.
3. Residential Airbnb / Hanok Trash Sorting Rules
If staying in an apartment or vacation rental, you must sort waste strictly into four distinct streams:
1. General Waste: Placed inside official prepaid government bags purchased at convenience stores (*Jongnyangje Bongtu*).
2. Food Waste (Eumsikmul): Discarded into yellow/special food waste bins without plastic or bones.
3. Recyclables: Transparent plastic bottles (clear PET with label removed), glass, and aluminum cans.
4. Paper & Cardboard: Flattened and bundled.