"Did You Lose Money by Just Throwing It Away?"... Eco-Friendly Financial Management That Turns Trash into Cash [The Basics of Benefits]

Eco-Friendly Habits in Daily Life Turn into Points
Collecting PET Bottles, Used Batteries, and Paper Cartons Brings Rewards

Editor's Note"The more you know, the more you see, and the more you know, the more you save." Despite living in an age overflowing with information, there are still many things that we alone might miss. In [The Basics of Benefits], we deliver useful news that can help you save money in your daily life—knowledge that brings rewards if you know it, but losses if you don't.

#Ms. A, an office worker, recently began removing the labels from empty water bottles and collecting used batteries and milk cartons instead of simply throwing them away. She brings a tumbler to cafes and opts for electronic receipts instead of paper ones. In the past, these might have been considered tedious recycling tasks, but now such small habits are becoming a form of "eco-friendly financial management," as they return as points and household goods.

A collection of empty PET bottles to aid in understanding the article. Pexels

In reality, the amount of household waste we produce is not insignificant. According to the National Statistical Office, in 2024, the daily household waste generation per resident nationwide was about 1.3 kg. The problem is that even items with high recycling value are often not properly collected. The Ministry of Environment reported that the recovery and recycling rate of paper cartons, which are recyclable packaging for beverages such as milk and juice, dropped from 19.9% in 2019 to 13% in 2023. This is why systems that turn carelessly discarded recyclables back into resources are drawing attention.

Small Actions in Everyday Life Turn into Points

The most representative example is the government-run "Carbon Neutral Points Green Life Practice" program. According to the official guidelines, 10 won is earned for each electronic receipt issued, 300 won for each use of a tumbler or reusable cup, and 500 won per use of refill stations or reusable containers. In addition, high-quality recyclables earn 300 won per kilogram, and returning a used mobile phone earns 1,000 won per device.

The annual cap is 70,000 won, and you can check your accumulated points from as early as three days up to the end of the following month, depending on each participating company's reporting schedule. Although the amount accumulated may not be large, this is an easily accessible and repeatable benefit closely tied to daily life.

Image of inserting a transparent PET bottle through the AI circular resource collection robot 'Nephron' and checking accumulated points via the app. Superbin

Used PET bottles and cans can also be exchanged for cash-equivalent points via unmanned collection machines. The AI circular resource recovery robot "Nephron" awards 10 points for each label-free beverage PET bottle and can, and you can apply for reimbursement once you have collected over 2,000 points. The location of nearby machines and accumulated points can be checked through the Superbin app, and each person can deposit up to 30 PET bottles and 30 cans per day. This means you can receive a small reward while sorting your recyclables.

However, not just any PET bottle is accepted. Only clean, label-free transparent beverage PET bottles with the cap and label removed can be deposited. The size does not matter. Bottles with markings, those containing non-beverage liquids, or plastics that are not transparent PET bottles cannot be deposited.

Collect Used Batteries and Paper Cartons for the Community Center... Local Governments' Recycling Exchange Programs Also Noteworthy

Promotional posters for the recyclable materials exchange program of Anyang City and Goyang City. Each local government

Recycling exchange programs operated by local governments are also worth paying attention to. In many regions, if you bring used batteries, paper cartons, or transparent PET bottles to administrative welfare centers, you can exchange them for household items such as toilet paper, standard waste bags, or new batteries. The exchange items, criteria, and rewards vary slightly by region.

For example, in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, each neighborhood community center exchanges 1.5 kg of paper cartons for one roll of toilet paper and one standard waste bag, and either 30 transparent PET bottles or 20 used batteries for one standard waste bag. Dongdaemun-gu runs the "Our Neighborhood Recycling Exchange Day" program twice a month at each community center, where paper cartons, transparent PET bottles, and used batteries can be exchanged for household goods. This means that even just the habit of separating used batteries or milk cartons can lead to practical rewards, depending on your area.

Of course, if you collect items carelessly, it is difficult to receive rewards. Transparent PET bottles must be emptied and the label removed, while paper cartons must be washed, dried, and folded before being disposed of. Only when they are cleanly separated do they have high recycling value and become eligible for exchange programs. What matters more is not just "collecting," but "properly sorting" your recyclables.

Ultimately, the core of eco-friendly financial management is not grand gestures. Small habits—like receiving electronic receipts at cafes, bringing your own tumbler, and separating PET bottles, milk cartons, and used batteries at home—are enough. What would otherwise be trash can turn into points, cash, or household goods if you just pay a little more attention. Especially during times of high inflation, these practical, everyday benefits become even more valuable.

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