Ministry of Environment announced that the amended ‘Enforcement decree on Waste Control Act’ was resolved in the State Council on May 12th and will enter into force on May 27th. The amended law defines the conformity ation cycle of waste disposal business and the scope of medical waste that can be incinerated at designated waste disposal plants.

The enforcement decree includes matters related to the system implementation in accordance with the amendment to the ‘Waste Control Act (promulgated on November 26th, 2019)’ aimed at preventing illegal waste and promoting stable disposal of waste. 

Highlights of ‘Enforcement decree on Waste Control Act’ are as follows:

Waste disposal service companies should renew ation with governing authorities such as local governments to prove that they retain qualifications and capacity to perform business every five years.

Companies without violation history of ‘Waste Control Act’ in the past 5 years shall see the verification period extended by two years. 

This will result in companies with insufficient capacity to process waste being withdrawn from the market. Appropriate waste disposal environment will be established in market.

In the case of emergency where medical waste disposal is difficult, general medical waste* of low hazard such as bandage and gauze may be processed at designated waste incineration plants instead of medical waste-dedicated incineration plant.

* Medical waste of lower chances of infection and hazard such as bandage, gauze, and single-use syringe

So far, only the designated incineration plants were allowed to dispose of medical waste.  

This amendment will ensure the secure disposal of medical waste which requires swift process due to high risk of second infection.

The amendment also allows Korea Environment Corporation under the Ministry of Environment to be designated as promotion center for appropriate process of waste material*. It set the term for members of the advisory commission for waste material disposal at two years to support appropriate process of medical waste. 

* Specialized organization to support appropriate disposal of waste ranging from information collection, promotion to implementation.

** The commission run by the Ministry of Environment to provide advice to government agencies regarding the parties subject to orders on waste material disposal and its scope

Resources Circulation Policy Division Director Lee Young-gi of Ministry of Environment said “With the amendment to enforcement decree, the Government will reinforce monitoring of waste material disposal and reduce the generation of illegal waste material.”