In Korea you pay for rubbish by the bag. Anything that is not food waste, recycling or large waste goes in an official volume-based bag — 종량제 봉투 (jongnyangje bongtu).
Buying bags
- Sold at convenience stores, supermarkets and marts. Ask: 종량제 봉투 주세요.
- Sizes usually run from 5 to 50 litres or more; prices are set by each city or district.
- Bags only work in the district they are made for. After you move, buy new ones — a bag from another district may not be collected.
What goes in
Everything that cannot be recycled and is not food waste: tissues, receipts, rubber gloves, toothbrushes, bones and shells, tea bags, broken toys and more. When you cannot tell whether something is recyclable, Seoul’s advice is to put it in the general waste bag rather than contaminate the recycling.
Special sack for things that do not burn
Broken glass in quantity, ceramics, heat-proof glass and paint cans with paint left go in a special sack for non-burnables — 특수규격마대, sold where your district decides — ask at your community service centre (주민센터) where to buy them. Small amounts of broken glass can go in a normal bag, wrapped in newspaper.
When to put it out
Days, times and places are set by each district — many ask you to put rubbish out in the evening on collection days. Check the notice in your building or your district office website.
Fines
Putting rubbish out without an official bag, or mixing recycling and food waste into it, can be fined. Districts can fine up to ₩1 million.
Last checked October 13, 2026. Based on Seoul Metropolitan Government and district rules; details differ by district.