"Pay for Your Waste": South Korea's Successful Food Waste Recycling System

South Korea's food recycling model has made the country a global benchmark, achieving a 97% reuse rate of its food waste. This success is based on a clear principle: "pay according to the amount of waste you generate."

Recycling: A Daily Habit

For Yuna Ku, a journalist for BBC Korean Service and a resident of Seoul, paying to recycle her food scraps is part of her routine. In her apartment complex, sensor-equipped machines measure the amount of waste and determine the fee to be paid.

South Korea processes approximately 4.56 million tons of food waste annually, originating from households, restaurants, and small businesses, according to the Institute of Agriculture at Gyeongsang National University. Of that amount, 4.44 million tons are recycled, representing an impressive 97.5%.

In comparison, only 40% of food waste in the United States is recycled, while the rest ends up in landfills. Globally, the United Nations estimates that 931 million tons of food were wasted in 2019.

A System with History

In 1996, South Korea recycled only 2.6% of its food waste. The country's rapid industrialization in the 1980s led to an increase in waste generation and related environmental issues. With a population density exceeding 530 people per km², landfill expansion triggered public protests and a demand for sustainable solutions.

In 1995, a waste fee system based on the volume of waste generated was introduced. Later, in 2005, the disposal of food waste in landfills was banned, and in 2013, the "Pay by Weight for Food Waste" system was implemented.

Recycling Options

The system varies by region and type of residence, offering three main methods:

Authorized bags: Residents must purchase special bags to dispose of their waste. A three-liter bag costs approximately 20 cents.
Stickers for businesses: Restaurants and small businesses buy stickers that are attached to waste containers according to weight.
Machines with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID): In modern buildings, waste is deposited into machines that weigh the trash and automatically charge the user.

The use of RFID has proven effective, as it allows citizens to see the amount of waste generated in real time, promoting greater environmental awareness.

Compliance and Penalties

The South Korean system is widely respected by the population. In case of violations, fines can exceed $70 for households and reach more than $7,000 for businesses. Surveillance is reinforced with security cameras and monitoring of generated waste.

What Happens to Recycled Waste?

Food scraps have multiple uses:

49% is turned into animal feed
25% is converted into compost
14% is used for biogas production

Despite the success of the system, challenges remain, such as ensuring the safety of using food waste in animal feed and improving biogas production technology.

A Replicable Model

The South Korean system combines financial incentives, environmental education, and strict regulations. Its success demonstrates that food waste reduction is possible through a comprehensive approach.

While the model could be adapted to other countries, factors such as income levels and food security must be considered. In regions with high poverty rates, the priority should focus on reducing losses and promoting food redistribution.

Each nation must design its strategy based on concrete data and its specific context. As FAO expert Rosa Rolle points out: "There is no one-size-fits-all solution."

Source: BBC