South Korea to mandate separate paper pack recycling in apartments

South Korea's Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment will mandate the separate disposal of paper packs, such as milk cartons, in large-scale apartment complexes starting January 1, 2025. A voluntary pilot program will begin in approximately 144,000 apartment buildings with 300 or more households this October.

The initiative aims to improve recycling rates, which fell from 19.9% in 2019 to 13% in 2023 due to paper packs being mixed with general waste or paper. To establish a 'closed loop' recycling system, a public-private partnership has been formed involving producers like Seoul Milk and Maeil Dairies, manufacturers like Tetra Pak, and recycling companies such as Hansol Paper.

While paper packs have high recycling value due to their natural pulp content, individual households may find it difficult to profit by selling them to scrap dealers due to low market prices and the effort required for cleaning and drying. Instead, some local governments offer practical incentives, such as exchanging 1kg of cleaned paper packs for toilet paper or trash bags at community centers.