Seoul Metropolitan Area 'Recycling Crisis' Temporarily Resolved... Private Companies Withdraw Refusal to Collect Waste

Recyclable waste such as packaging boxes is piled up at a recycling station in an apartment complex in Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-gi] The movement by private companies to refuse collecting waste paper, which had raised concerns about a 'waste paper crisis,' has been resolved as the companies withdrew their refusal.

On the 17th, the Ministry of Environment announced that 23 collection and transportation companies, which had recently announced they would not collect waste paper from 65 apartment complexes in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province, have withdrawn their refusal. Previously, 9 companies contracted with 17 apartment complexes in Seoul and 14 companies contracted with 48 complexes in Gyeonggi had announced their intention to refuse waste paper collection.

These companies stated that as China reduced its waste paper imports and international waste paper prices fell, they might refuse to collect waste paper if it was not separated from contaminants. The reason was that the process of separating waste paper from contaminants incurs additional costs, making profitability difficult. The Ministry of Environment warned that if the refusal was not withdrawn, contracts with public housing and private collection companies would be terminated and contracts with public collection agencies would be pursued.

An official from the Ministry of Environment said, "If the refusal crisis by private companies recurs in local governments such as Seoul and Gyeonggi, we will immediately switch to a public collection system," and added, "We will continue to monitor the waste paper collection status in apartment complexes."

Additionally, the Ministry of Environment plans to establish detailed implementation measures to quickly reflect international recycling material price fluctuations in domestic collection fees, according to the 'Apartment Complex Recycling Management Guidelines' prepared during the 2018 recycling waste crisis.

According to the guidelines, the Korea Environment Corporation under the Ministry of Environment conducts market surveys and announces recycling material prices monthly, and private companies and apartment complexes adjust collection fees considering the announced prices. However, there have been continuous criticisms that international prices have not been properly reflected in contracts.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Environment plans to resolve the imbalance in waste paper supply and demand by promoting restrictions on waste paper imports and, according to the voluntary agreement signed last month, will recommend that the domestic paper industry prioritize purchasing domestic waste paper.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.