# South Korean waste management and recycling initiatives > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/20260930-south-korean-waste-management-and-recycling-initiatives > Updated: 2026-09-30T03:00:00.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 2. South Korea is implementing new waste management initiatives through the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment to improve recycling rates and safety. In response to declining recycling rates for paper packs, the government will mandate separate disposal of items like milk cartons in large-scale apartment complexes starting January 1, 2025. A voluntary pilot program involving approximately 144,000 apartment buildings is scheduled to begin this October. This effort involves a public-private partnership with producers and manufacturers to establish a ‘closed loop’ recycling system. Simultaneously, the Ministry is expanding collection infrastructure for small electronic waste and batteries to prevent fires caused by improper disposal. The government plans to install 8,000 additional dedicated collection bins by the end of the year, supplementing existing infrastructure. Efforts to assist citizens include integrating bin locations into online maps and distributing instructional materials to local governments regarding the proper separation of removable batteries. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-30: South Korea to expand battery and electronic waste collection bins South Korea is expanding its electronic waste collection system, adding 8,000 bins to prevent fires caused by improperly disposed batteries in portable fans and power banks. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/south-korea-to-expand-battery-and-electronic-waste-collection-bins ### 2026-09-21: South Korea to mandate separate paper pack recycling in apartments South Korea will mandate separate disposal of paper packs in large apartment complexes starting January 2025 to boost recycling rates and establish a circular economy. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/south-korea-to-mandate-separate-paper-pack-recycling-in-apartments --- Cite as: South Korean waste management and recycling initiatives. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/20260930-south-korean-waste-management-and-recycling-initiatives