Gwangyang City Cracks Down on Illegal Sale and Use of Kitchen Waste Disposers

Gwangyang City, South Jeolla Province, announced that starting from December 10, it has been intensively cracking down on the sale and use of uncertified kitchen waste disposers.

This crackdown is a measure to prevent various environmental and sanitation issues such as sewer blockages, foul odors, and increased burdens on sewage treatment facilities caused by the use of illegal waste disposers.

Illegal Kitchen Waste Disposer Sales and Usage Intensive Crackdown Announcement Poster. Provided by Gwangyang City

The main focus of the crackdown includes the sale or use of uncertified or non-integrated products, the use of such devices in commercial establishments like restaurants rather than in ordinary households, and the modification, sale, or use of devices through illegal structural changes such as tampering with strainers.

Kitchen waste disposers are devices that finely grind food waste and discharge no more than 20% of it into the drain. Their sale and use are regulated under the Sewerage Act's intensive crackdown on illegal kitchen waste disposer sales and usage, as well as the Water Environment Conservation Act.

Legal kitchen waste disposers must be certified by the Korea Water Technology Certification Institute (KTWC) and must have received KC safety certification under the Electrical Appliances and Household Goods Safety Management Act. They are only allowed for use in ordinary households within sewage treatment areas and are prohibited in commercial establishments such as restaurants.

Compliant products must meet the standard of discharging less than 20% of food waste into the sewer, with the remaining 80% or more collected in a container and disposed of using designated food waste bags. Information on valid certified products can be found through the integrated certification information network of the Korea Water Technology Certification Institute.

The sale of illegal products is punishable by up to two years of imprisonment or a fine of up to 20 million won. The use of uncertified or modified products may result in an administrative fine of up to 1 million won.

Alongside the crackdown, Gwangyang City plans to conduct promotional activities to raise awareness about the proper use of kitchen waste disposers and the dangers of illegal products, and will distribute informational leaflets in apartment complexes and commercial areas.

A city official stated, "Uncertified kitchen waste disposers can place a serious burden on the sewage system and cause environmental pollution. Please make sure to check for the KC safety certification mark when purchasing products, and remember that even certified products are only permitted for use in ordinary households."