Is Kimjang Waste Food Waste or General Waste?

Gwanak-gu Operates Special Collection Period for Kimchi-making Waste...Special Collection Period for Kimchi-making Waste Operated for Two Months from November to December...Applicable to General Households and Small Restaurants...Attach Kimchi-making Waste Disposal Sticker on General 10ℓ or Larger Volume-based Waste Bags
Waste Not Collected if Mixed with General Waste or Sticker Not Attached

Gwanak-gu (District Mayor Park Jun-hee) is operating a ‘special collection period’ during which kimchi-making waste can be disposed of in general volume-based waste bags as the kimchi-making season begins in earnest.

The district is implementing this collection period to address the issue of the small capacity of food waste bags compared to the volume of vegetable waste generated from kimchi-making and the problem of mixed disposal.

During the special collection period, which runs for two months from November 1 to December 31, only kimchi vegetable waste should be collected and disposed of in general volume-based waste bags of 10 liters or more.

The operation targets ‘general households’ and ‘small restaurants.’ Large-scale waste generators such as collective catering facilities serving 100 or more people per day and general restaurants with a business area of 200m² or more are excluded from the operation.

Kimchi waste refers only to ‘cabbage, radish, and radish greens without seasoning.’ Vegetables that are seasoned or pickled must be disposed of according to the existing food waste disposal methods.

In particular, roots and peels of chives, green onions, onions, garlic stalks, chili seeds, chili stems, and chili stalks cannot be recycled as feed or compost and must be separated and disposed of as general waste.

The disposal method requires attaching a kimchi waste exclusive sticker to the outside of the general volume-based waste bag and placing it in front of your house or store between 6 PM and midnight. However, Saturdays are excluded from the disposal period.

Kimchi waste disposal stickers can be obtained at the local community service centers or printed from the Gwanak-gu Office website.

If kimchi waste and general waste are mixed when disposed of, the waste will not be collected and a fine will be imposed. Also, if the exclusive sticker is not attached or kimchi waste is disposed of in general volume-based waste bags after the special collection period, it will not be collected.

District Mayor Park Jun-hee said, “Food waste mixed with general waste cannot be recycled as feed or fertilizer, so caution is needed,” and added, “We ask residents to pay attention to separating household waste and kimchi waste during the special kimchi waste collection period.”