South Korea has received global recognition for its recycling initiatives, boasting an official recycling rate of 73%, while the United States only achieves about 5%-6% for plastic waste. The MIT Technology Review named South Korea “one of the world’s best recycling economies,” and it is the only country in Asia to be in the top 10 of the Green Future Index. However, industry professionals and environmentalists argue that these awards mask deeper issues in the country’s waste management system, especially as South Korea’s plastic waste mountain continues to grow.

The Reality Behind South Korea’s Plastic Waste Mountain

Greenpeace estimates that the actual recycling rate in South Korea is closer to 27%, despite the government’s 73% claim. This discrepancy arises because the official rate includes all waste sent to sorting facilities, regardless of whether it is eventually incinerated or landfilled. Activists highlight the substantial rise in plastic waste, which grew from 9.6 million tonnes in 2019 to 12.6 million tonnes in 2022, primarily as a result of increased plastic packaging caused by the pandemic and the expansion of e-commerce.

Despite these problems, a large portion of this garbage is still either unprocessed or inadequately handled because of a lack of financing. For instance, 19,000 tonnes of plastic waste at a site in Asan remain abandoned because the owner cannot pay for cleanup efforts. This highlights the difficulties in managing growing amounts of waste effectively. South Korea’s plastic waste mountain demonstrates the challenges of maintaining a sustainable waste management system.

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Inconsistent Policies and Industry Influence

The inconsistent and unclear goals of South Korea’s approach to managing plastic trash have drawn criticism. In November 2023, laws regarding single-use plastics were eased, reversing the stricter regulations that had been implemented a year prior. Advocates argue that attempts to reduce and recycle plastics are hampered by South Korea’s cultural preference for elaborate packaging of gifts and goods as well as pressure from petrochemical firms. Even while companies like SK Chemicals and LG Chem have invested heavily in cutting-edge recycling methods like pyrolysis and depolymerization, these strategies are costly and have drawn criticism for potentially harming the environment.

Steps Toward Global Action

As South Korea prepares to host the INC-5 discussions in Busan, the international debate will centre on whether to prioritize reducing plastic production or improving waste management. While South Korea’s progress in recycling demonstrates potential, activists and experts emphasize the need for a shift in focus. This includes moving away from reliance on recycling alone and addressing the root causes of plastic waste.

At the G-20 summit, President Yoon Suk Yeol called for greater efforts to combat plastic pollution as part of sustainable development. Activists and policymakers are urging stronger collaborations between the public and private sectors to drive meaningful change at both national and global levels.

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