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Yongsan-gu Waste & Recycling Disposal Guide

All household waste must be separated by type and disposed of in front of your home (or in designated apartment complex areas) during the designated collection times.

Collection Time: Typically between 6 PM and midnight on designated days (excluding Fridays and Saturdays in some areas, or the day before a holiday).

1. General Waste (일반 쓰레기)

Disposal Method: Must be placed in a designated standard general waste bag (종량제봉투, jongnyangje bongtu), available for purchase at convenience stores or supermarkets.

  • Items: Non-recyclable items such as food-soiled paper, receipts, diapers, sanitary products, pet waste, broken glass/ceramics, and items that cannot be recycled (e.g., certain types of vinyl that are dirty or mixed-material packaging).

2. Food Waste (음식물 쓰레기)

Disposal Method: Must be placed in a designated food waste bag (yellow or specific color, depending on the district) or a designated food waste container (often using an RFID card system in apartments).

  • Items: Anything that is edible or can be used as animal feed.
  • Exclusions (Place in General Waste): Large bones, seafood shells, eggshells, onion/garlic/corn husks, tea bags/leaves, and hard shells (nuts, coconuts) are considered general waste.
  • Preparation: Remove all moisture and impurities (e.g., dirt) before disposal.

3. Recyclables (재활용품)

Disposal Method: Items should be separated by material (paper, plastic, cans, glass, vinyl, etc.) and placed in transparent plastic bags or designated recycling bins, not standard general waste bags.

General Rule: Rinse and Dry

  • Empty and rinse all containers to remove food residue.
  • Remove labels, caps, and lids made of different materials.

Categories:

  • Paper/Cardboard: Flatten and bundle securely. Remove any plastic coating, tape, or springs from notebooks.
  • Plastic/PET: Empty, rinse, remove labels/caps, and flatten.
  • Cans/Metal: Empty, rinse, and puncture (butane canisters, insecticides).
  • Glass Bottles: Rinse. Do not include broken glass, mirrors, or ceramics (these are general waste).
  • Vinyl/Plastic Bags: Collect clean, non-soiled vinyl in a transparent bag. Dirty vinyl goes in general waste.