The Ministry of Environment (Minister Han Wha-jin) will enforce certain amendments to the Enforcement Rules of the Waste Management Act, containing clear legal grounds to sanction indiscriminate and excessive incineration practices in waste incineration facilities, from this day, following the announcement of the amendments on August 11.

These amendments obligate waste incineration facilities (or waste-to-energy facilities), among other entities, to handle waste within the disposal capacity (or recycling capacity) that has been approved, permitted, or reported in advance. However, in cases where the heat generation caused by waste incineration does not exceed the design heat generation of the facility, additional incineration is allowed within the limits of 30% of the disposal capacity.

With the enforcement of this amendment, if waste is processed in waste incineration facilities (or waste-to-energy facilities) exceeding 30% of the disposal capacity (or recycling capacity), the business owner will be subject to a penalty of imprisonment for up to twoyears or a fine of up to KRW 20 million for violating the waste treatment facility management standards. In the case of operators, administrative actions such as suspension of business for a month to cancellation of permits will also be taken.

With this amendment to the enforcement rules, the Ministry anticipates that the excessive and indiscriminate incineration practices in waste incineration facilities can be prevented in advance, thereby mitigating potential health hazards for local residents and environmental contamination in the vicinity.

Contact: Park Sung-Su, Deputy Director

Waste Resources Management Division / +82-(0)44-201-7371