In response to the environmental challenges posed by surging sales. South Korea’s Ministry of Environment plans to include new electronic devices such as vapes, dryers, and drones in the mandatory recycling system.
As sales of new electronic products such as dryers, drones, and e-cigarettes continue to increase in the South Korean market. The public is paying more attention to the obligation to recycle these products, NewsPim reported on July 12th. South Korea’s Ministry of Environment (MOE) is under pressure to strengthen the recycling system for new products, promote the development of a circular economy, and reduce the environmental pollution caused by e-waste.
Last June, at the Emergency Economic Ministers’ Meeting, the Ministry proposed a “New Growth Strategy for the Promotion of the Circular Economy Industry,” which aims to expand the recycling target from 50 products to most electronic devices, in line with the EU’s strategy. However, despite the announced expansion of recycling, no concrete institutional reforms have emerged over the past year.
Critics point out that the government needs to actively improve the current system to enhance the recycling system for new electronic products. According to a July 11 report by South Korea’s Ministry of the Environment, there are only 50 products under the mandatory recycling system, including refrigerators, household washing machines, fans, smartphones, and televisions. Although the recycling program was expanded twice, in 2014 and 2020, there are still many discarded electronic devices that are not included in the recycling responsibility.
The Korea Disease Management Agency’s “National Health and Nutrition Survey” reportedly showed that the percentage of adults using liquid e-cigarettes rose from 1.1 percent in 2013 to 3.5 percent in 2022. Since the 2019 statistics, the utilization rate of rolled vapes has remained at around 6% and 5.9% in 2022.
As sales of new electronic devices, such as e-cigarettes, dryers, and drones, increase. The lack of responsibility on the part of manufacturers to recycle these products limits the state’s understanding and practicality of recycling waste products.
While expanded recycling programs are in place, it takes time to review and revise laws and regulations. If you calculate the point of time when the revision of laws and regulations is completed. The point of time for implementation is about one year. Korea’s Ministry of Environment said that the expansion of the electronics recycling program will increase the responsibilities and obligations of manufacturers, so it is necessary to have a comprehensive discussion with stakeholders.
An official from the Ministry of Environment said, “In the first half of the year, we discussed direction through exchange meetings with the industry. We aim to start revising laws and regulations this year.”
