[Changes from the Second Half of the Year] From Year-End, Detached Houses Must Also Separate 'Transparent PET Bottles' for Recycling

'Environment and Weather' Field

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Joo Sang-don] Starting at the end of this year, detached houses will also be required to separate transparent PET bottles from plastics during recycling.

On the 28th, the Ministry of Economy and Finance published "Changes Starting from the Second Half of 2021," which includes this information.

The separate collection system for transparent PET bottles was first implemented last December targeting multi-family housing. This will now be expanded to include detached houses.

Before the full implementation of the system, the Ministry of Environment plans to conduct a preliminary pilot project in the second half of this year with 30 local governments in 12 cities and provinces nationwide that have voluntarily expressed participation. This aims to enhance on-site compliance. Additionally, through 8,000 resource management assistants deployed in May, they will perform pre-sorting of contaminants and provide guidance and education on proper separation at collection points for both multi-family and detached houses. They will also promote awareness using media, social networking services (SNS), posters, and electronic billboards.

From June this year, multi-use facilities that have undergone indoor air quality surveys by the Ministry of Environment are exempt from the mandatory self-measurement of indoor air quality for that year. Under current law, owners of multi-use facilities subject to indoor air quality management must conduct self-measurements annually: general multi-use facilities (such as movie theaters, museums, exhibition halls) in the first half of the year, and facilities used by sensitive groups (such as daycare centers and nursing homes) in the second half. Facilities that have had their indoor air quality measured during the Ministry of Environment’s survey are considered to have fulfilled the self-measurement obligation, thereby reducing redundant measurement burdens.

Additionally, in July this year, a registration system for "Integrated Permit Agency" will be introduced to handle document preparation on behalf of applicants for integrated environmental management permits. In October, the scope of companies subject to the environmental information disclosure system?which promotes green management and social responsibility among public institutions and corporations?will be expanded. Besides existing disclosure targets such as green companies, companies with significant environmental impact, and public institutions, publicly listed corporations with total assets above a certain threshold will also be included. The asset size criteria for environmental information disclosure will be finalized upon revision of the enforcement decree.

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