South Korea to Update Guidelines on Separate Collection of Recyclable Resources

On November 24, 2025, the South Korea Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Environment (MCEE) announced proposed amendments to the "Guidelines on Separate Collection of Recyclable Resources". The draft aims to improve recycling efficiency by preventing the mixing of materials discharged separately, updating the list of items subject to separate collection, and revising discharge instructions. Stakeholders may submit comments until 15 December 2025.

Prevention of Mixing During Collection and Transport

The draft introduces a new provision that require local authorities to implement necessary measures to ensure that recyclable materials, once separately discharged at the source, are not mixed during the collection and transportation. This provision is intended to preserve the quality and recyclability of collected materials and improve the overall effectiveness of separate collection systems.

Updates to Recyclable Items and Discharge Instructions

The draft also proposes to revise the list of items subject to mandatory separate collection and update the corresponding discharge instructions. These proposed changes are detailed in Annex 1 of the Guidelines.

Examples:

Item	Sub-item	Discharge Instructions
Metal cans	Other cans (Butane gas, insecticide containers, etc.)	Butane gas: Must be discharged after completely removing the gas by pressing the nozzle in a well-ventilated area. Cans with remaining contents (e.g., insecticides, lacquer, polish): Do not pierce the can. Discharge them as-is into a dedicated household hazardous waste collection container. If such a container is not available, seal them in a plastic bag and discharge using a standard garbage bag or according to the method determined by the local government.
Batteries	Primary batteries (mercury batteries, silver oxide batteries, lithium primary batteries, manganese batteries, alkaline manganese batteries, etc.) Secondary batteries (nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, lithium-ion batteries, etc.)	Discharge into a designated battery collection container or through reverse collection channels such as electronics stores and watch shops. If the battery is included in a product and can be separated, remove only the battery and discharge it into the battery collection container. If the battery cannot be separated from the product, discharge the entire product as is into the battery collection container or the small-appliance collection container. (If the terminals of a removed battery are exposed, insulate them with insulation tape or seal in a plastic bag before discharge.)
Electrical and electronic products	Large electrical and electronic products	Large electrical and electronic products must be discharged through reverse collection by the seller when purchasing a new product, by using the free home-collection service for home appliances, or in accordance with the collection system for large waste managed by the local government. If reusable, they may be sold to recycling centers operated by the local government. ※ Applicable items: TV, refrigerator, washing machine, dryer, air conditioner, solar panels, general electronic products (electric oven, vending machine, treadmill, dish dryer, dishwasher, copier, electric water purifier, electric bicycle, electric kickboard, air purifier, microwave oven, dehumidifier, etc.), audio set, desktop PC set (main body + monitor), etc.
Electrical and electronic products	Small electrical and electronic products (battery-powered products, electrical/electronic toys, other small home appliances, etc.)	Small electrical and electronic products should be discharged into designated collection bins, and if there are no designated bins, they should be discharged using the free home-collection service for appliances or by the method specified by the local government. Small electrical and electronic products in which batteries cannot be separated should be discharged as-is in the dedicated collection bins for small electrical/electronic products or battery collection bins. If the product contains fluorescent lamps or LED lighting (such as a desk lamp/stand), the lighting products must be separated and discharged. ※Applicable items: humidifiers, video players, scanners, electric rice cookers, vacuum cleaners, electric kettles, toasters, bread makers, hair dryers, e-cigarettes, Bluetooth earphones, electric hand warmers, etc.