Author:Gwak, Dae-Jong (New Growth Industries Division)

1。 Introduction
As long as we keep producing and consuming, we will inevitably generate waste. Furthermore, especially in mass consumption society, MSW (Municipal Solid Waste) will increase more rapidly than the growth of income. The problem is how to properly handle the MSW that is increasing each year. In the past, most MSW has been put into landfills; however, landfill capacity, including all potential areas, is almost saturated. The NIMBY (Not in My Back Yard) phenomenon is partly responsible for the current problem in which the government cannot easily purchase and use any land suitable for MSW management facilities. Since the mid-90s, the government has given top priority to waste reduction and recycling, source separation, and a specific surcharge system called Volume-based Waste Fees (VBWF). This system requires each household to
pay in proportion to its quantity of waste. Each household must use official
vinyl bags, which are sold mainly at grocery stores. The VBWF system has
been applied nationwide since January 1, 1995.