The impact of food waste in South Korea
Banchan, or small side dishes, are available for free at almost every restaurant alongside every meal. Much of this food is often left uneaten, leaving food waste with every serving. This poses a special waste processing issue as seasoned and cooked food waste cannot be disposed of in landfills due to groundwater and soil contamination concerns. The South Korean government has taken steps to solve this by separating certain food waste from general waste to be reused as biogas or feed for animals. The rule of thumb is that food waste that can be theoretically fed to animals is separated (e.g., fruit or vegetable skins, raw meat). However, the volume of food waste continues to be an area of concern as some call for the reduction of unnecessary banchan offerings at restaurants.Confusion with recycling in South Korea
Although recycling is mandatory, the majority of people in South Korea have had experience with not complying with recycling waste separation standards. There can be many reasons for such non-compliance, some of which can be due to laziness. However, specific guidelines, such as clear PET bottles being recycled separately from other plastic waste, can be confusing for some. Due to this, a large majority of households in South Korea have just one person responsible for recycling, potentially reducing such confusion and subsequent fines. This could show the existence of an unequal burden on domestic caretakers as well as a level of ignorance of recycling standards within other groups. Despite this, South Korea continues to work toward recycling solutions and bring awareness to its importance.
