Suggestions
for newly elected president of South Korea

: How can we build a
sustainable Zero Waste Society

May 30, 2017

Korea Zero
Waste Movement Network

1. Achieving zero discards to the landfill or incineration
by 2022

(1) New Deal for Zero
Waste green jobs: More than 30 local governments in the U.S. announced plans
for 100% diversion by 2020. About 100,000 jobs are expected to be created
through implementation of the Zero Waste goals.

(2) Maximize reuse and
recycling: Recycling is critical for countries with scant natural resources
like Korea. While many developed countries approach resource management in the
perspective of resource security, Korea still lacks awareness-building efforts
and infrastructures. Policies focused on resources security should be developed
to ensure high quality recycling and promote resource circulation.

(3) Readjust
landfill/incineration tax and reduce waiver on hazardous substances

2. Building Zero Waste Network ‘Upcycling Korea’

(1) Establish a database
of local Zero Waste practices

• Precise
  statistics on waste including local level should be prioritized. Currently
  local governments manually process data on household waste after receiving them
  from contracted waste management companies to report to the central government.
  

• Proper
  statistical system, especially at the local level, should be put in place in
  order to provide adequate information to the public.

(2) Improve collection
and transportation system

• Automated
  transfer stations are not being properly managed because they are not
  classified as waste management facilities. Transfer stations should be
  incorporated in the current waste management system by amending relevant
  statutes.

• Korea
  should create an enabling environment to encourage waste management companies
  equipped with high technology and expertise to expand their practices
  nationwide while ensuring that there are more than 5 companies in each local
  autonomous entity to strengthen the competitiveness.

(3) Build an
infrastructure for effective recycling

• The
  government should stabilize the price of recycling materials to prevent
  resources from ending up either in landfill or incinerator depending on the
  unstable market price.

• Extended
  Producer Responsibility(EPR) must be strengthened because current waste levy
  system and voluntary agreement system can be misused to avoid recycling cost.
  Packaging industry should start manufacture with recyclable materials instead
  of plastic. 

• Efficient
  management of organic waste can be achieved by raising awareness on composting
  and strengthening the role of local governments in treating food waste
  effluent. Especially, solidifying sewage sludge for landfill should not be
  understood as recycling.

• The
  government should develop technologies and induce investment to improve the
  quality of recycling materials with less logistical cost.

(4) Promote culture of sharing in towns and
cities

• More
  reuse markets and sharing markets should be placed in the city to promote the
  culture of sharing. Also supporting reform centers and social enterprises could
  contribute to boosting the culture of upcycling.

3. Vitalizing voluntary civic participation  

(1) Establish a
public-private governance for greater public support on Zero Waste policies

• Gaining
  support from the public as well as building institutional and physical
  infrastructures is crucial for achieving a circular economy.

• The
  government should operate education programs to offer citizens opportunities to
  learn about reducing, reusing, recycling in their daily life.

• In
  order to reduce the amount of waste generated at the local, collaboration with
  environmental organizations must be institutionalized through participatory
  governance.

(2) Support development of
voluntary resource management models at the local level

• A
  more autonomous model of waste management should be developed at the local
  level as waste resources can add value to connecting environment and social
  welfare. Financially supporting a social enterprise that works to assist
  low-income senior citizens to collect and sort out waste resources can be an
  example.

• Despite
  the fact that as high as 80% of all collected materials for recycling comes
  from junk shops, there have been legal restrictions on junk shops which label
  them as illegal. Korea should protect low-cost and high efficiency practices of
  junk shops by amending the National Land Use Law.