Sejong, August 29 - The Ministry of Environment (ME, Minister Han Wha-jin) will promote the expanded ban on the use of disposable products by distributing 'Guidelines on the Scope of Application for the Use of Disposable Products.'  The new regulation is pursuant to the 'Enforcement Rules of the Act on the Promotion of Saving and Recycling of Resources,' revised and proclaimed on December 31, 2021.

The Ministry of Environment has been paying attention to the complaints of related industries and analyzing situations to come up with supportive methods to prepare for the implementation of the revised policy. As a part of the efforts, the Ministry of Environment released the 'Guidelines on the Scope of Application for the Use of Disposable Products' on August 24 on the Ministry's official website. The Guidelines include newly added items and businesses covered by the revised ban and related cases. It also contains information about the restriction on the use of disposable products in cafeterias, restaurants, large stores, sports facilities, etc.

The Ministry of Environment will also hold an online briefing session concerning the revision through its YouTube channel on August 30, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. The Ministry will also hold offline briefing sessions by visiting eight regions across the country from September to October.

In addition, the Ministry of Environment will distribute promotional brochures and promote them to various targets. The Ministry will notify the institutional changes to business associations, such as restaurants, bakeries, retail stores, and sports facilities, and customized briefing sessions will take place upon request. 

The Ministry of Environment first imposed a ban on disposable items in 1994. When the ban was first established, the Ministry strongly advised people not to use disposable cups, plates, and containers. Now, the ban is expanded to eighteen items. From November 24, paper cups, plastic straws, and plastic stirrers for single use will be added to the items and banned from use in restaurants and cafeterias. Currently, plastic bags are banned from use in large stores over the area of 3,000㎡ and supermarkets over the area of 165㎡. According to the revised regulation, plastic bags will also be banned in convenience stores, retail stores, and bakeries. Plastic umbrellas will be banned from large stores, and single-use cheering products will also be banned from sports facilities.  

"Reducing the use of disposable products is the key to the plastic reduction policy, and it requires the participation of everyone," said Seo Young-tae, Director of the Resources Circulation Policy Division of the Ministry of Environment. He added, "We will continuously provide various information for reducing the use of single-use products."

Contact: Kim Nam-hee, Senior Deputy Director

Resource Circulation Policy Division / +82-(0)44-201-7417

Foreign Media Contact: Chun Minjo(Rachel)

+82-(0)44-201-6055 / rachelmchun@korea.kr