Extended Producer

Responsibility
In KOREA

Created by Silvanny IKECC 2016

Introduction
Waste Treatment Process
Disposal of municipal wastes (example: wastes other than industrial wastes) in South Korea is by way of
landfilling, recycling, composting and incineration.

Focus on 3R

About EPR
To Promote 3R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) Policy
Basis Law: Act on the Promotion of Saving and Recycling of Resources
The Extended Producer Responsibility System ("EPR System") imposes more collection and r
ecycling responsibilities on producers for the products they make or import. Every year, they
have to meet the required recycling quota set by the Ministry of Environment. EPR System w
as introduced in 2003 to replace the former system, namely the Waste Deposit System, which
required manufacturers to pay a deposit for the production of recyclable items, including bottle
s, aluminum and steel cans, glass, and polyethylene bottles

Producer
Responsibility

Production

Sale

Without EPR

With EPR

Consume

Discard

Collection

Recycle

About EPR
Role and Responsibilities in EPR

About EPR
Role and Responsibilities in EPR
Players

Role and Responsibilities

Producers

Performing the required recycling obligations

Consumers

Separately discharging recyclable waste

Local
Government

Carrying out public Awareness Programs for local residents; and

Disposing of non-recyclable wastes and collecting recyclable wastes for
recycling

National
Government

Enacting and amending waste management laws; administering the

system; setting mandatory recycling rates; and Authorizing the
establishment of Producers Responsible Organizations

Korea
Environment
Corporation
(KECO)

Checks and monitors the invoices and receipts of the producers and
importers to ensure that targets are met

Producers subject to recycling obligations can preform their recycling obligations through:
1. Direct recovery and recycling;
2. Contracting out to a recycling business directly; or
3. Joining Producers Responsible Organization by paying joining fees
Producers who fail to meet their obligations are subject to standard recycling fees and surcharge.

EPR System
Operation Map of EPR System

EPR System
Mandatory Recycling Rate (Article 17)
The Minister of Environment shall publish the yearly recycling rate of EPR items. The rate is m
ultiplied by the yearly output or imported quantity of EPR items in the year, and the result beco
mes the mandatory recycling quantity.

Formula for calculating the recycling rate

Previous years recycling rate + (Long term recycling rate Recycling rate of
the previous year)*Reflection coefficient + Adjustment coefficient

Reflection coefficient gradually increases from 20% in the first year of the
inclusion of a new product under the umbrella of the EPR system to 100% in
the fifth year and after.
Ministry of Environment decides the coefficients through consultation with
stakeholders and expert meetings.
Adjustment coefficient takes into account the capacity of recycling facilities,
development of recycling technology, life cycle of products and so on.

EPR System
Mandatory Recycling Rate
Items

Long- term
Target

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

Carton pack

0.360

0.278

0.266

0.280

0.291

0.305

0.327

0.327

0.341

0.341

0.346

Glass bottle

0.793

0.672

0.684

0.708

0.726

0.737

0.751

0.757

0.778

0.760

0.760

Aluminum can

0.816

0.700

0.712

0.717

0.730

0.740

0.756

0.771

0.786

0.786

0.791

PET bottle

0.830

0.695

0.704

0.717

0.737

0.749

0.764

0.783

0.806

0.806

0.812

PVC

0.733

0.480

0.484

0.556

0.583

0.598

0.600

0.622

0.664

0.644

0.690

Plastic
container tray

0.845

0.502

0.528

0.585

0.628

0.653

0.702

0.757

0.800

0.800

0.806

Lubricant

0.730

0.687

0.687

0.676

0.677

0.677

0.692

0.708

0.722

0.725

0.726

Tire

0.770

0.718

0.720

0.737

0.748

0.748

0.754

0.758

0.762

0.762

0.765

Fluorescent
lamp

0.394

0.189

0.207

0.225

0.231

0.240

0.261

0.285

0.300

0.328

0.355

Styrofoam
float

0.277

0.277

0.277

0.285

0.280

Mercury
battery

0.600

0.250

0.293

0.380

0.490

0.490

0.600

0.600

0.600

0.600

0.600

Lithium battery

0.650

0.249

0.293

0.380

0.490

0.520

0.577

0.582

0.650

0.650

0.650

Television

0.431

0.118

0.126

0.133

0.145

0.160

0.190

0.210

0.272

0.564

Refrigerator

0.389

0.165

0.169

0.173

0.189

0.206

0.221

0.250

0.267

0.343

A/C

0.080

0.015

0.017

0.019

0.021

0.023

0.024

0.024

0.027

0.028

Computer

0.260

0.085

0.094

0.098

0.103

0.111

0.123

0.140

0.153

0.158

Mobile phone

0.400

0.119

0.154

0.165

0.180

0.198

0.220

0.230

0.356

0.257

Economic Instrument
1. Waste Charge (Article 12)
2. Recycling Dues (Article 19)
3. Contributions (Article 29)

Economic Instruments
1. Waste Charge (Article 12)
The Advanced Disposal Fee (ADF) in Korea (referred to as waste charge) is imposed on prod
ucers and importers of goods and materials, and containers that are difficult to recycle or likel
y to cause problems in the waste management. The items include: pesticides, hazardous che
micals, anti-freeze solutions, chewing gum, disposable diapers, cigarettes, and plastic product
s not included in the EPR scheme such as PVC pipe, toys, and kitchenware and so on.
Item

Waste Charge Rate

Plastic container

24.9KRW for a container less than or equal to 500ml and 30.7KRW for a container
larger than 500ml.

Glass bottles

56.2KRW for a bottle less than or equal to 500ml and 84.3KRW for a container
larger than 500ml.

Metal cans

53.9KRW for a can less than or equal to 500ml and 78.2KRW for a container larger
than 500ml.

Chewing gum

1.8% of sale price

Anti-freeze solution

189.8KRW per liter

Disposable diapers

5.5KRW per diaper

Cigarettes

7KRW per pack

Economic Instruments
2. Recycling Dues (Article 19)
Recycling Dues occurred when a producer obligated to recycle fails to fulfill the obligation to r
ecycle.
Recycling Dues shall be calculated by multiplying the unit recycling cost by the quantity not re
cycled out of the mandatory recycling quantity and adding and additional dues calculated.

Recycling Target

Recycling Dues

Below 5%

Recycling cost x Quantity not recycled out x 15/100

5%-15%

Recycling cost x Quantity not recycled out x 20/100

15%-30%

Recycling cost x Quantity not recycled out x 25/100

Above 30%

Recycling cost x Quantity not recycled out x 30/100

Economic Instruments
Usage of Waste Charges and Recycling Dues (Article 20)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Assistance for waste recycling projects and installation of waste disposal facilities;
Research and technology development for efficient recycling and reduction of wastes;
Assistance for recovery, recycling, and disposal of wastes by local governments;
Purchase and reserve of recyclable resources;
Assistance for projects to facilitate recycling
Funding for collection of waste charges (including additional dues) or recycling dues.
Others, such as assistance for projects necessary to facilitate recycling of resources.

Economic Instruments
3. Contributions (Article 29)
Producers obligated to recycle shall pay contributions for joint fulfillment of the obligation for r
ecycling to PRO, so that the organization can collect and recycle the used products or packag
ing materials.
The allotments are distributed among the member producers of the PRO according to the ma
ndatory recycling quantity assigned to each producer, and the PRO collects and manages the
recycling fee.
Six PROs are currently operating in Korea and the use of funds and main revenues are differe
nt among PROs. Usually, 70-90% of funds collected are spent to support recycling businesse
s, and 1-5% is allocated for information and public awareness. The coverage of the fund expe
nditure varies according to the items and the recipient recycling businesses. Generally, the fun
d is used to cover treatment cost but not sorting and collection costs.
A large share of the funds is contributed by food manufacturers, retailers, and producers of co
smetics, and the plastic packaging industry makes up the highest proportion.

MSW Management Overview

More to recycle, Less to landfill

28,951
(ton/day)
19,166

2000

2012
Recycling

List of Mandatory Products: Metal cans, Glass bottles, Paper Packaging, Plastic Packaging
Materials, Lubricants, Tires, Fluorescent light bulbs, Batteries, and Electronic Products.

Outcomes of EPR system

1. Increased Recycling
With EPR in effect since 2003, the quantity of recycled products and packaging materials gra
dually rose to 1,519 thousand tons in 2012 which is 62% more than the number in 2002. 41%
of municipal solid waste generated in 2012 was recycled, and 27% of that amount was EPR i
tems. Of the EPR items recycled in 2012, 1,371 thousand tons were recycled, 104 thousand
tons were used as fuel in cement kiln, 39 thousand tons were reused, two thousand tons wer
e incinerated with energy recovery, and three thousand tons were exported to be recycled.

2. Reduction of Use of Raw Materials and Replacement of Natural

Resources
The recycling of EPR items (Batteries and plastic film) enabled the creation of approximately
1.7 trillion Won of value-added, while saving processing expenses of approximately 1.9 trillion
Won for incineration and landfilling

Outcomes of EPR system

3. Environmental Improvements for Products
The production of environmentally friendly products by businesses has greatly expanded. The
number of products with environmental certifications

and products certified as Good

Recycled (GR) has increased.

4. Building a Foundation for the Recycling Industry

The resource-recycling businesses in South Korea have been growing rapidly. The number of
recycling companies in the nation increased rapidly from 1 647 in 1999 to 4 375 in 2009, empl
oying a total of 52 000 people. The government's financial support has lent particular support t
o the growth of the recycling industry in South Korea. The Ministry of Environment provides lo
ng-term low interest loans to small recycling businesses for the development of recycling facili
ties and technologies. New recycling businesses are provided with consultations from busine
ss initiation experts to facilitate their start-up work.

Outcomes of EPR system

5. Energy Savings and Greenhouse Gas Reduction

The End

#Attachment
Separate Discharge Mark
Along with EPR System, the Separate Discharge Mark System was introduced in 2003 requiri
ng producers of mandatory recycling products or packages (mostly the daily necessities) to att
ach a separate discharge mark on their products to raise consumers awareness for separate
discharing and recycling.
A mark design has to comply with the guidelines for Separate Discharge Mark issued by the
Ministry of Environment. The picture below show a sample of the separate discharge mark.