Policies

Act on the Promotion of Saving and Recycling of Resources

Last updated: 23 October 2024

The Act on the Promotion of Saving and Recycling of Resources is a legal framework established to preserve the environment and support national economic development by controlling waste generation and promoting efficient recycling practices through various regulatory measures and incentives. The legislation was amended in 2002 and has undergone multiple revisions to adapt to changing environmental needs.
The Act is structured around the following key components:

Governance:

  • The Ministry of Environment formulates five-year basic plans for resource recycling
  • Local governments must implement annual action plans aligned with national objectives
  • Creates a multi-level system of oversight involving national and local authorities

Obligations:

  • Manufacturers must comply with packaging material standards and reduce synthetic resin usage
  • Businesses must control disposable goods usage
  • Waste dischargers must separate recyclable materials
  • Producers have mandatory recycling obligations
  • Manufacturers must label products with recycling information

Financial Mechanisms:

  • Implements waste charges for hard-to-recycle products
  • Establishes recycling dues for non-compliant producers
  • Provides financial assistance for recycling facilities and industries
  • Creates a deposit system for container recycling

Infrastructure Development:

  • Established recycling centres and complexes
  • Created public recycling infrastructure
  • Promoted the development of recycling industries

Economic Benefits:

  • Provides financial incentives for recycling businesses
  • Supports research and technical development
  • Facilitates international cooperation in resource recycling

Enforcement:

  • Implements penalties for non-compliance, including fines and imprisonment
  • Establishes inspection and reporting requirements
  • Creates accountability through recordkeeping obligations

South Korea implemented the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme in 2003 established through the Act on Resource Recirculation of Electrical Waste and End of Life Vehicles and the Act on the Promotion of Saving and Recycling of Resources. The Korea Environment Corporation (KECO) oversees EPR implementation, monitoring compliance through an online portal where producers and importers must report their sales, imports, and recycling data. Producers must either collect and recycle their end-of-life products or pay recycling fees to Producer Responsibility Organisations (PROs). These PROs, which are accredited by KECO, manage the recycling process with fees covering 70-90% of recycling costs and 1-5% allocated for public awareness campaigns. Non-compliance results in fines of up to 30% surcharge, though smaller producers and importers are exempt from these obligations. 

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