Food waste — 음식물 쓰레기 (eumsingmul sseuregi) — is collected separately because it is made into animal feed and compost. That is why anything an animal could not eat, or that would break the machines, is not food waste.
Three ways it is collected
- Shared bin — a food waste bin outside or in your building.
- Card-reader bin (RFID) — common in apartments: tap your card, the lid opens, and you pay by weight.
- Food waste bag or sticker — a special bag or a prepaid sticker on a small bin, bought like general waste bags.
Which one you use depends on your building and district. Ask the building manager if you are not sure.
How to prepare it
- Drain water and soup.
- Rinse very salty food (kimchi, doenjang) in water.
- Cut big vegetables and rinds into small pieces.
- Take out anything that is not food — plastic, toothpicks, foil, bottle caps.
Not food waste — general waste bag
Seoul’s food waste standard lists these as general waste:
- Chicken bones닭뼈General waste
- Fish bones생선뼈General waste
- Eggshells달걀 껍데기General waste
- Clam, oyster and mussel shells조개껍데기General waste
- Crab and crayfish shells게 · 가재 껍데기General waste
- Peach and apricot pits복숭아씨 · 살구씨General waste
- Nut shells견과류 껍데기General waste
- Coconut and pineapple skins코코넛 · 파인애플 껍질General waste
- Onion, garlic and ginger skins양파 · 마늘 껍질General waste
- Green onion roots대파 뿌리General waste
- Corn stalks and pepper stems옥수수대 · 고추대General waste
- Chili pepper seeds고추씨General waste
- Tea bags and tea leaves티백 · 찻잎General waste
- Herbal medicine residue한약재 찌꺼기General waste
- Pufferfish innards복어 내장General waste
- Wooden chopsticks and toothpicks나무젓가락 · 이쑤시개General waste
- Straws and disposable spoons빨대 · 일회용 숟가락General waste
- Chewing gum껌General waste
Last checked October 13, 2026. Based on Seoul Metropolitan Government and district rules; details differ by district.