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In 2024, South Korea's waste management landscape was heavily influenced by construction and industrial activities. Construction waste made up about **** percent of the total waste generated, while waste from business sites linked to discharge facilities accounted for around **** percent. This underscores the substantial contribution of these sectors to the nation’s overall waste generation.

Recycling efforts and industry growth

Despite the challenges posed by large volumes of waste, South Korea has made substantial progress in recycling. In 2024, an impressive**** percent of total waste disposed was recycled, with only about **** percent being incinerated. This high recycling rate is supported by a growing industry, with over 7,000 companies operating waste recycling services in the country that year, an increase of more than 1,700 since 2017. 

Material-specific recycling rates

Recycling rates vary significantly across different materials in South Korea. Metal waste leads with a recycling rate of around ** percent in 2023, while the average recycling rate for municipal waste stood at around ** percent. Synthetic resin waste saw nearly tons separated for recycling daily that year, with a recycling rate of around ** percent. However, this rate was lower than the previous year, indicating potential areas for improvement in plastic waste management.