Korean Trash and Recycling Rules for Travelers and Short-Stay Guests

Short answer: in Korea, general trash goes into special pay-as-you-throw bags (jongnyangje bongtu, 종량제 봉투) that you buy at convenience stores and supermarkets. Food scraps are kept separate, and recyclables (plastic, cans, glass, paper) are sorted on their own and left unbagged or in clear bags. If you are in a hotel, you only need to sort lightly. If you stay in an Airbnb, guesthouse or a friend's apartment, follow the host's instructions, because the exact bag colours, days and drop-off spots depend on the district and the building.

Why Korea is so strict about trash

Korea uses a volume-based waste fee system: households pay for general trash by buying official bags, so the less you throw away, the less you pay. Food waste is collected separately and mostly turned into animal feed, compost or energy, which is why you will notice people carefully draining and sorting leftovers. Sorting is a normal part of daily life here, and neighbours do notice when bags are wrong. For a visitor this is not a reason to worry, just a reason to spend two minutes learning the basics.

The four main categories

1. General waste (일반쓰레기)

Anything that is not food and not recyclable: used tissues, dirty wrappers, receipts, toothbrushes, broken small items, cigarette butts. It must go into an official jongnyangje bag for that district. Bags come in sizes such as 5, 10, 20 and 50 litres, and a small one is usually enough for a short stay. Ask for it at the counter of a convenience store such as CU or GS25; the bags are often kept behind the till rather than on the shelves. Say "jongnyangje bongtu juseyo" (종량제 봉투 주세요) and the smallest size.

One catch: bags are issued by each district (gu), so a bag bought in one area may not be valid in another. Buy it near where you are staying.

2. Food waste (음식물쓰레기)

Leftover rice, noodles, vegetable peels, fruit flesh and similar soft scraps. Drain the liquid first. Depending on the building, food waste goes into a dedicated food-waste bag, a shared bin, or an electronic bin that weighs the waste and charges a card. A simple rule many Koreans use: if an animal could eat it, it is food waste. Hard items such as chicken and pork bones, shellfish shells, fruit pits, eggshells, onion skins and tea bags usually go in general waste instead. Local rules can differ, so check with your host if unsure.

3. Recyclables (재활용)

• Plastic: bottles, takeaway containers, cups. Rinse them and remove food.
• PET bottles: many buildings now want clear water bottles separated from other plastic, with labels removed and the bottle squashed.
• Cans and metal: rinse and flatten if you can.
• Glass: bottles and jars, rinsed. Soju and beer bottles can often be returned to stores for a small deposit refund.
• Paper and cardboard: flatten boxes and remove tape. Dirty paper (napkins, greasy pizza boxes) is general waste.
• Vinyl and plastic film: snack wrappers and plastic bags often have their own category, as long as they are clean.

Recyclables are not put in paid bags. In apartment buildings they usually go into labelled bins or sacks in a shared area, sometimes only on certain days.

4. Large or special items

Furniture, appliances and other bulky items need a paid sticker or an online report to the district. As a short-stay guest you will almost never deal with this. Batteries and fluorescent bulbs often have small collection boxes in apartment lobbies or community centres.

Hotels, guesthouses and Airbnbs: what you actually need to do

Hotels

Leave trash in the room bins. Many hotels provide separate bins for general waste and recyclables; it helps if you keep bottles and cans apart, but staff handle the rest.

Guesthouses and hostels

Shared kitchens normally have labelled bins. Look for the Korean words below, or just copy what is already in each bin.

Airbnbs and short-term apartments

This is where most visitors get confused. Read the house manual first; many hosts leave bags and a sorting guide. If not:

• Keep food scraps in a sealed bag in the fridge or freezer until you leave, so they do not smell.
• Buy one small jongnyangje bag from the nearest convenience store.
• Ask the host where the building's drop-off point is and whether there are set times. In many villa-style buildings, trash is placed outside on the street in the evening on specific days.
• Never leave unsorted trash in an ordinary plastic bag on the street. It may not be collected, and it can cause trouble for your host.

Trash on the street: where are the bins?

Public bins are fairly rare in Korean cities, which surprises many visitors. You will find some near subway exits, bus stops, parks and tourist sites, often split into general waste and recycling. Convenience stores sometimes have bins for items bought there. The easiest habit is to carry a small bag for your own wrappers and empty cups and throw them away at your accommodation. Cafes generally take back their own cups if you return them.

Useful Korean words

• 일반쓰레기 (ilban sseuregi) – general waste
• 음식물쓰레기 (eumsingmul sseuregi) – food waste
• 재활용 (jaehwaryong) – recycling
• 플라스틱 (peullaseutik) – plastic
• 캔 (kaen) – cans
• 유리 / 병 (yuri / byeong) – glass / bottles
• 종이 (jongi) – paper
• 비닐 (binil) – plastic film and bags

From POPORO CITY, Hana says: "If you're not sure, rinse it, flatten it, and ask. Nobody minds a polite question."

Quick tips

• Buy the smallest jongnyangje bag in the district where you are staying.
• Drain and separate food scraps; bones and shells usually count as general waste.
• Rinse plastic, cans and bottles before recycling them.
• Carry a small bag for your own litter; public bins are few.
• Follow your host's manual first; rules vary by district and building.
• For the official rules, check your district office's website or the Seoul Metropolitan Government's multilingual waste guides.

Planning where to stay? Our guide to Myeongdong vs Hongdae vs Seongsu compares the main areas, and the Korean convenience store guide explains what else you can pick up while buying your trash bag.

FAQ

Can I use any plastic bag for trash in Korea?

Not for general waste. It must go into an official volume-rate bag (jongnyangje bag) from the local district. Ordinary bags may not be collected.

Where do I buy trash bags in Korea?

At convenience stores, supermarkets and some marts. They are often kept at the counter, so ask the staff for a jongnyangje bongtu.

Are chicken bones food waste?

Usually not. Bones, shells, fruit pits and tea bags are generally treated as general waste because they cannot be turned into feed. Check local rules if in doubt.

What do I do with trash when I check out of an Airbnb?

Follow the host's instructions. If there are none, sort recyclables, bag general waste in an official bag, and ask the host where food waste should go rather than leaving it in the apartment.

Will I be fined as a tourist?

Districts can fine people for illegal dumping, and rules apply to everyone. In practice, sorting as described here and following your host's guide is enough to avoid problems.