The designated-bag system
Korea uses a volume-based waste fee system: general (non-recyclable) trash must go into an official designated bag purchased locally -- usually available at nearby convenience stores or supermarkets -- rather than any generic bag. Bags are district-specific, so a bag bought in one area may not be valid in another. If you're staying in an Airbnb or short-term guesthouse, ask your host directly which bag color and where to buy it, since this is the single most common point of confusion for visitors.
Recycling separation
- Recyclables (paper, plastic, glass, cans) are generally separated by material into different bins or collection points, not bagged together with general trash.
- Rinse containers before recycling where practical -- heavily contaminated recyclables can be rejected.
- Styrofoam and certain mixed-material packaging often have their own separate collection category -- check your building or neighborhood's specific bin labels.
Food waste
Food waste is collected completely separately from both general trash and recycling, usually through dedicated food-waste bins (sometimes coin- or card-operated in apartment buildings, weighing your disposal for the volume-based fee) or a separate designated food-waste bag depending on the building. Ask your accommodation host specifically about food waste, since mixing it into general trash is one of the more commonly flagged mistakes by short-term visitors.
Street bins for casual/short-stay use
Public street bins are much less common in Korea than in some other countries, historically to discourage household trash from being dumped in public bins. As a visitor without your own designated bags, carry small amounts of rubbish (drink cups, wrappers) until you find a public bin near a convenience store, subway station or park, rather than assuming a bin will be nearby.
Official sources
Time-sensitive details were checked against the original sources below on 2026-08-28.