Trash disposal

Trash disposal (쓰레기 버리기/廢棄物排出) in Seoul is subject to the Wastes Control Regulations (폐기물관리규정) of each District Office (구청/區廳). In accordance with newly modified regulations, when a pedestrian places his coffee cup or a piece of tissue paper on top of a trash bag, and if it is taken by another passer-by with his phone camera, then the careless citizen could be fined for violating the citizens' rule rather than etiquette.

Key words
trash, wastes control, protection of environment, reward for reporting, ordinance

Statutory Ground
The authority to levy the fine for negligence (과태료/過怠料) against the violators of the above regulations has been empowered to the head of City or Gu Office pursuant to the relevant law. The newly amended Wastes Control Act has got rid of the additional process "pursuant to the Presidential Decree" or the provision of the Presidential Decree effective on June 2, 2013.

New Rule on Trash Disposal in Seoul
In order to reduce environmental pollution and health risks, Seoul citizens are required to throw away trash in an appropriate manner. In other words, they should place garbage and recycling bins in front of their houses or stores at a given time, say, during the night from 8:00 p.m. to midnight on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Then garbage trucks pick up and collect them early in the next morning. Otherwise, the violators of the rules on times and places for leaving trash for pickup are subject to a fine for negligence of 30 thousand won to one million won.

For example, the Seocho-Gu Office revised the ordinance (조례/條例) on waste management to give a reward (무단배출 신고포상금/無斷排出申告褒賞金) to anyone who reports violations, starting in July 2012. If a report includes evidentiary material that proves a violation has occurred, or a violator's personal data, the violator will be fined and the reporter will receive a reward.

Wastes Control Ordinance
Fines for negligence on account of violating the trash disposal rule and rewards for reporting are as follows:
 * Effective on July 1, 2012 (Unit: 1,000 Korean won = US$0.86)

Source: Seocho-Gu Office, Seoul Metropolitan City