In Ohio, throwing away trash was easy. You opened the bin, you threw it in, you walked away. In Korea, throwing away trash is a science exam.
You need specific bags. You need to separate labels. You need to know if a chicken bone is considered “food” or “weapon.” If you mess this up, two things will happen:
- You will get fined (expensive).
- The building security guard (The Guard) will hunt you down.
Welcome to Level 1. Let me tell you how I almost became a criminal because of a banana.
The “Idiot” Archives: The Banana Peel Crime
Flashback: 4 years ago. My first officetel (studio).
I finished eating a banana. I threw the peel into a random black plastic bag along with some tissues and empty cans. I tied it up and tossed it in the building’s dumpster. I felt productive.
The next morning, my doorbell rang. It was The Guard. He was holding my black bag. He looked furious. He opened the bag (yes, he opened it!) and pointed at the banana peel.
“No! Food! Separate!” he shouted in Korean. He handed me a fine notice for not using the official bags. I stood there, holding my rotting banana peel, apologizing profusely. I felt like I had murdered someone.
Enter “Ssam” (The Waste Management Guru)
I called Ssam (my mentor) in tears. “Ssam, I’m going to jail. The guard hates me. Why is trash so complicated?”
Ssam laughed. “Alice, welcome to the Matrix. You can’t just throw things away here. You have to pay for what you throw.”
He explained the system called Jongnyangje (Volume-rate Garbage Disposal System). “It’s annoying, but it keeps the city clean. You need to learn the Color Code.”
Level 3 Wisdom: Decoding the Colors
Ssam gave me a crash course. Memorize this, or The Guard will find you.
1. General Waste (White Bag)
- The Bag: You must buy specific Standard Plastic Garbage Bags (Jongnyangje Bongtu) at a convenience store or mart near your house. They are usually White (in Seoul).
- What goes in: Dirty tissues, old shoes, broken pens, plastic wrappers that are dirty.
- Rule: If it’s not recyclable and not food, it goes here.
2. Food Waste (Yellow Bag)
- The Bag: Usually Yellow (or sometimes a special bin with an RFID card).
- What goes in: Leftover rice, banana peels, vegetable scraps.
- Why? In Korea, food waste is recycled into animal feed or compost.
3. The Golden Rule: The Pig Test
This is the most important tip Ssam taught me. “Can a pig eat this?”
- Banana Peel: Soft. A pig can eat it. -> Food Waste (Yellow).
- Chicken Bone / Egg Shell / Onion Skin: Hard or dry. A pig cannot eat it (it might choke). -> General Waste (White).
Alice’s Note: Yes, I know it sounds weird, but trust the Pig Rule.
Alice’s Bottom Line: Don’t Anger the Guard
Separating trash is a hassle, but it’s part of the rent you pay for living in a clean city like Seoul. Buy the official bags. Separate your food. And if you see The Guard, bow 90 degrees and smile. He is the true owner of the building.
Survival Hangul: At the Convenience Store
- “일반 쓰레기 봉투 10리터 주세요. (Ilban sseuregi bongtu sip-liter juseyo.)”
- Meaning: “Please give me a 10L general trash bag.” (White ones).
- “음식물 쓰레기 봉투 제일 작은 거 주세요. (Eumsikmul sseuregi bongtu jeil jageun-geo juseyo.)”
- Meaning: “Please give me the smallest food waste bag.” (Yellow ones).
- “이거 어디에 버려요? (Igeo eodie beoryeoyo?)”
- Meaning: “Where do I throw this away?” (Ask your neighbors or the guard).