"Trash Pileup After Holidays Causes Headaches"
Remove Tape from Boxes... String Goes in Volume-Based Waste
"Superabsorbent Polymer" Ice Packs Must Be Disposed of Whole
On the 20th, ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday, citizens are selecting fruit gift sets at the Nonghyup Hanaro Mart Yangjae branch in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@
[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] Despite the COVID-19 situation, many people still want to express their gratitude to those they appreciate with gift sets and other presents. However, while gift wrapping feels pleasant when opening, it becomes a nuisance as waste after the holiday ends. Especially this year, with the increase in non-face-to-face consumption, the amount of waste after the holidays is expected to rise significantly, making proper waste separation and disposal more important than ever.
Delivery Boxes/Gift Boxes
Delivery boxes should be disposed of after removing the shipping label and tape. To prevent contamination, flatten the boxes and sort them by type before recycling. Plastic frames or cushioning caps used to secure products should be classified as plastics and disposed of separately. If there are contaminants, wash them clean before recycling, and coated paper boxes should be classified as general waste.
Twine used to tie products should be thrown away in designated waste bags. Air caps can be recycled if they do not have tape attached or contaminants. They should be placed in transparent or semi-transparent plastic bags and disposed of as plastic waste; there is no need to remove the air.
Ice Packs
For ice packs and other cooling materials, if the packaging is made of paper and the contents are eco-friendly materials such as water, salt, or starch, the contents can be poured down the drain. The packaging should be recycled as paper.
However, if the ice pack contains 'superabsorbent polymer,' it should not be disposed of this way. This material can cause environmental pollution and harm humans through various routes. Superabsorbent polymer has excellent cold retention but is classified as a type of microplastic, which does not biodegrade and is difficult to recycle. Such cooling materials should be disposed of whole without opening the packaging. Although it may seem necessary to separate the plastic wrapping, the correct method is to place it in a designated waste bag like general waste.
Styrofoam
Net-shaped packaging that wraps fruit is made of Styrofoam (expanded polystyrene) and can be recycled. However, due to low economic feasibility, it is acceptable to dispose of it as general waste. Some local governments have systems in place to separately collect fruit packaging, so it is advisable to check with community centers or apartment management offices.
Styrofoam used for packaging agricultural, fishery, and livestock products, as well as cushioning materials for electronic products, can be recycled. However, products coated or glued with other materials, construction interior and exterior Styrofoam, and colored Styrofoam plates should be disposed of in designated waste bags.
Local Governments Crack Down on Excessive Packaging...Fines up to 3 Million KRW
Earlier, local governments announced that ahead of the Lunar New Year, they would form inspection teams to eradicate excessive packaging practices, focusing inspections on department stores and large marts nationwide. According to regulations on packaging materials and methods, gift sets must be packaged within two layers and have a packaging space ratio of 25% or less. Repackaging products using synthetic resin packaging materials is also subject to inspection. Violations may result in fines of up to 3 million KRW.
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