Cups, straws and plastics bags banned in Korea

Starting on November 24th 2022, convenience stores, coffee shops, and restaurants will no longer accept any single-use, throwaway items like straws, bags, or paper cups.

All of the regulations limiting single-use items were meant to take effect sooner, but the epidemic caused delays.

There won't be any penalties for a year, according to the Ministry of the Environment. Since the plastic waste has increased during the Covid-19 epidemic, therefore a methodical approach is necessary to apply the ban. For a year, there will be a possible waiver of the prohibition on plastic stir sticks, plastic straws, and plastic bags.

Charges of up to 3 million won ($2,120) may be assessed for violating these rules, however they will not be applied during the first year.

Customers shall be offered recyclable containers, cloth or paper bags, or plastic garbage bags instead of single-use plastic bags in discount retailers, department stores, shopping malls, and supermarkets larger than 165 square meters.

However, wet, moisture-containing foods like tofu, fish, shrimp, and meat as well as products that can melt like ice cream and some vegetables will be allowed to be packaged in plastic bags.

Additionally, bakeries and convenience stores will no longer sell plastic bags.

There will be a ban on paper cups in cafes and restaurants.

In sporting venues, plastic items used for cheering would also be prohibited.

Disposable chopsticks and those tiny plastic bags that people use to wrap wet umbrellas to keep the rain off the floor will no longer be available in convenience stores or restaurants.

Although they are not permitted in cafes or restaurants, plastic straws are acceptable for takeout beverages.

Disposable paper cups won't be available in coffee shops in South Korea any longer.

No paper plates, coffee stirrers, or swizzle sticks are allowed either.

By 2025, the government intends to reduce plastic waste by 20%.

South Korea consumes a lot of plastic, but the country also recycles a lot of it, around 68%, according to the consultancy firm Frost and Sullivan.