If you live in Korea, you may have noticed something unusual about throwing away your trash.
You cannot always just put everything into one garbage bin.
Instead, you may find yourself standing in front of several different containers, wondering:
“Where am I supposed to put this?”😐
Welcome to 분리수거 (bun-ri-su-geo), Korea’s system of separating recyclable waste.👏
For Koreans, 분리수거 is simply part of everyday life. But for foreigners who have just moved to Korea, the system can feel surprisingly complicated.😅
Interestingly, Korea’s careful approach to food waste has also attracted attention overseas. A recent Washington Post article highlighted Korea’s food-waste recycling system, noting that around 98% of food waste is recycled into things such as animal feed, compost, and biogas.
What Does 분리수거 Mean?
분리수거 literally means “separate collection.”
분리 = separation
수거 = collection
The basic idea is to separate different types of waste so that recyclable materials can be collected and processed appropriately.
You may see separate containers or designated areas for:
Plastic
Paper
Glass bottles
Metal cans
Cardboard
Food waste
General waste
The exact rules can vary depending on where you live, so it is important to check out the recycling rules in your apartment complex or local area.
Why Do Koreans Separate Their Trash?
In Korea, residents are expected to take an active role in sorting household waste.
In many apartment complexes, recyclables are separated into specific categories such as paper, cardboard, plastic bottles, other plastics, glass bottles, cans, metal, Styrofoam, and plastic bags. Food waste and general waste are also handled separately.
Some items require extra care. For example, plastic bottles may need to be emptied, rinsed, and separated from their labels and caps, depending on local rules.
Compared with some other countries where I have lived or stayed, Korea’s system requires more detailed sorting and closer attention to disposal rules.
For Koreans, however, this is simply part of everyday life. Many children learn 분리수거 from a young age, so it becomes almost automatic.
What About Plastic?
This is where things can get a little confusing.
Not every piece of plastic should automatically go into the same recycling container.
For example, when you finish a drink in a plastic bottle, you may be expected to empty and rinse the bottle before recycling it. Depending on local rules, labels or other parts may also need to be removed.
So instead of simply thinking,
“It's plastic, so I'll throw it in the plastic bin,”
you may need to look over the item and separate its different parts.
This is one reason the Korean recycling system can seem complicated at first.
Food Waste Is Separate, Too
Food waste is another important part of the Korean waste system.
In many places, food scraps are collected separately rather than being thrown away with ordinary household garbage.
You may see a special food-waste container or, in some apartment complexes, a machine that weighs food waste.
This means that Koreans often have to keep track of what belongs in the food-waste container and what does not.✅
For someone who is new to Korea, this can be one of the biggest differences to get used to.
My Experience in Other Countries
Having spent some time in Europe and America, I found recycling relatively straightforward in the places where I lived and stayed.
By comparison, Korea’s system felt much more detailed. There are more categories to separate, and people are expected to pay closer attention to how each item should be sorted and disposed of.
Food waste especially stood out to me. In Korea, separating food waste is a well-established part of everyday life, with specific rules that people are expected to follow.
Of course, systems vary from country to country, but in my experience, Korea’s recycling system requires more careful sorting and following the rules.
What Happens If You Get It Wrong?
Don't panic!
If you are new to Korea, it is completely understandable to make mistakes.
The rules can vary between apartment complexes, neighborhoods, and local governments. Some places have very detailed instructions about what can and cannot be recycled.
The best thing to do is find out the rules where you live rather than assuming that every part of Korea follows exactly the same system.
Many apartment buildings also post recycling instructions near the garbage area.
You may see signs with pictures showing different types of waste and where they should go. These can be especially helpful if you are still learning Korean.
And if you're unsure, simply ask:
“이거 어디에 버려요?”
This means:
“Where do I throw this away?”
It's a very useful question to keep in mind when you're living in Korea.
A Typical Korean Recycling Routine
For many Koreans, recycling becomes a regular household habit.
You might:
Empty a container.
Rinse it if necessary.
Separate different materials.
Put food waste in its designated container.
Keep general waste separate.
Take everything to the designated recycling area on the appropriate day.
After doing this for a while, you don't really think about it anymore.
It simply becomes part of your routine.
If you live in an apartment, you will probably also pick up the recycling schedule and specific rules of your building fairly quickly.
Useful Korean Words
Here are a few Korean words that can come in handy when dealing with recycling:
분리수거 — separate waste collection / recycling
재활용 — recycling
쓰레기 — garbage / trash
일반쓰레기 — general waste
음식물쓰레기 — food waste
재활용품 — recyclable materials
버리다 — to throw away
분리하다 — to separate
Here are two especially useful expressions:
이거 어디에 버려요?
Igeo eodie beoryeoyo?
“Where do I throw this away?”
이거 재활용이에요?
Igeo jaehwaliyeyo?
“Is this recyclable?”
These simple expressions can come in handy when you are trying to figure out the recycling rules in Korea.
Native Korean's Tip
If you are living in Korea and the recycling system seems confusing, don't try to memorize every rule at once.
Instead, start with the basic categories: general waste, food waste, and recyclables.
Then look up the specific rules for your apartment or neighborhood.
Once you get used to it, 분리수거 becomes one of those everyday Korean habits that you hardly think about.
And yes, there may come a day when you find yourself correcting someone else:
“Wait! That's supposed to go over there!”
Congratulations.😄
You have officially picked up a very Korean household habit.👍
You may also enjoy : Why Are Korean Public Toilets(공중 화장실) So Convenient? A Korean’s Perspective
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