Recycling — 분리배출 (bulli baechul) — is free, but it must be sorted by material and clean. Four rules cover most of it: empty it, rinse it, remove other materials, sort it.
Material by material
| Material | Korean | How | Not accepted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper | 종이류 | Remove tape, springs and staples; keep dry; flatten boxes and tie. | Receipts, coated paper, foil-lined boxes, greasy paper |
| Paper cartons | 종이팩 | Rinse, open flat, dry; carton bin if there is one. | — |
| Cans and metal | 캔류 · 고철 | Empty, rinse, crush; remove plastic lids. | Cans with gas or paint left; aluminium foil |
| Glass bottles | 유리병 | Empty, rinse, remove caps. Soju and beer bottles can go back to shops for the deposit. | Broken glass, ceramics, mirrors, heat-proof glass |
| Clear PET bottles | 투명 페트병 | Empty, label off, crush, cap on — separate from other plastic. | Coloured bottles (→ plastic) |
| Plastic | 플라스틱 | Empty, rinse, remove labels and other materials. | Toys, toothbrushes, hangers, CDs, pens, dirty containers |
| Vinyl and film | 비닐류 | Empty, rinse off food, collect together in a clear bag. | Cling film, vinyl tablecloths, rubber gloves |
| Styrofoam | 스티로폼 | Rinse, remove tape and labels. | Food-soiled or coated foam, foam fruit nets, building foam |
Putting it out
- Use clear bags so the contents can be seen — some districts do not collect recycling put out in black or opaque bags.
- Days and times are set by your district or apartment complex. Some districts collect recycling only on set days, after sunset.
- If something will not come clean, or you cannot tell what it is made of, put it in the general waste bag.
Read the mark on the package
Most packaging carries a recycling mark that tells you which group it goes in. See recycling marks explained.
Last checked October 13, 2026. Based on Seoul Metropolitan Government and district rules; details differ by district.