National strategies/policies

The Korean government has revised the 2nd Comprehensive National Waste Management Plan (2002~2011) in July 2007 in which the firm establishment of a sustainable and resource circulating socioeconomic foundation is outlined as a major policy objective. Based on this Plan efforts are being systematically undertaken to minimize waste generation, reuse waste as a resource, and establish infrastructure for safe waste management.

Legislation, regulations and guidelines

Many laws, regulations and guidelines are being enforced with the objective of reducing and discouraging the generation of hazardous waste, of which some of the major examples are the following:

• - The Waste Management Act;
• - Act on the Promotion of Saving and Recycling of Resources; and
• - Guidelines on the Reduction of Industrial Wastes (Public Notice by MOE and the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy, 2001).
• - Act for Resource Recycling Electrical and Electronic Equipment and Automobiles(2008)

Economic instruments/ initiatives

The Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system and the Waste Charge System have been in effect for recyclable and non-recyclable products, respectively.

The Volume-Based Waste Fee System has been in place since 1995 to facilitate the reduction of household waste and the separate collection of recyclable wastes from non-recyclable wastes.

Measures taken by industries/waste generators

Industries and waste generators are making efforts to minimize the generation of wastes, both to cut down the financial burden in their disposal and to comply with the Public Notice by MOE and the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy, announced on 21 December 2001. Some retailers, such as department stores, have signed a voluntary agreement with the MOE that they will steadily reduce the use of disposable goods, and some fast food restaurants have decided not to use them at all.