Fined 100,000 KRW for Throwing Tangerine Peels in Regular Trash — How Should You Dispose of Them?
Creatrip Team
3 months ago
Many people mistakenly throw tangerine (귤) peels into regular trash bags and face fines. In South Korea, fruit peels like tangerine, banana, and apple should be disposed of as food waste because they can be used as animal feed, compost, or biofuel. The key rule is whether the waste can be used as livestock feed. Hard pits (e.g., peach, apricot, cherry), tough shells (e.g., coconut, pineapple), meat bones, eggshells, nut shells, and shellfish shells are generally regular trash. Soft peels and stems such as tangerine peels, strawberry tops, and tomato stems count as food waste; very hard rinds like watermelon should be chopped before being disposed of as food waste. Fines for incorrect disposal vary by local government (about 100,000–1,000,000 KRW). Because rules are set by local district ordinances, residents should check with their district office (cleaning or resource circulation department) or use the Ministry of Environment’s “Waste Sorting in My Hand” app for guidance.
