Collection Household Items 2026.07.12

A Collection of Confusing Standards for Food Waste Disposal

Guidelines for separating food waste items that can often cause confusion, such as bones, shells, seeds, and coffee grounds.

#Food Waste #Separate Disposal #Lifestyle Information #Trash Disposal #Environment

Not everything that comes from food can be thrown away as food waste. Food waste often undergoes recycling processes like turning into animal feed, compost, or biogas. Therefore, items that are too hard, difficult to decompose, or mixed with foreign substances may need to be disposed of as general trash. Common items like bones, shellfish shells, hard seeds, tea bags, and coffee grounds can easily cause confusion without checking local guidelines.

This list is compiled based on common separation standards recommended by the Seoul city and several local governments, making it easier to identify frequently confused items at home. However, the methods of food waste disposal and exceptions can vary by district, so it’s best to check local community office or city hall guidelines or notices from apartment management offices before final disposal.

Meat Bones and Fish Bones

Beef, pork, chicken bones, and large fish bones can be hard and difficult to decompose, placing burdens on food waste processing facilities. Many regions follow the guideline to dispose of bones in general waste bags, even if some flesh is attached. However, for very small fish bones that may be hard to distinguish, it’s good to check local guidelines as they may differ. Note that exceptions can exist based on local ordinances and collection methods. While this is a good baseline, checking local community office guidelines, apartment bulletin boards, or RFID collection notices can help avoid unnecessary confusion.

일반 기준 일반쓰레기 이유 단단하고 분해가 어려움

Shells of Clams, Oysters, Crabs, and Shrimp

Shells from shellfish like clams, conchs, oysters, and abalones, as well as shells from crabs and lobsters, are hard and can strain crushing equipment. Many guidelines suggest disposing of them as general trash, and it’s easier to manage by removing moisture and wrapping them in newspaper or bags to prevent odors. However, exceptions can exist based on local ordinances and collection methods. While this is a good baseline, checking local community office guidelines, apartment bulletin boards, or RFID collection notices can help avoid unnecessary confusion.

일반 기준 일반쓰레기 관리 팁 물기 제거 후 배출

Hard Seeds like Peach, Apricot, and Persimmon

Hard Seeds from Peaches, Apricots, and Persimmons

Fruits with hard seeds, like peaches, apricots, and persimmons, are best separated into flesh and seeds for disposal. While the flesh and soft skin can often be disposed of as food waste, hard seeds tend to be categorized as general trash due to difficulty in crushing and decomposing. This differs from small, soft seeds like watermelon seeds. However, exceptions can exist based on local ordinances and collection methods. While this is a good baseline, checking local community office guidelines, apartment bulletin boards, or RFID collection notices can help avoid unnecessary confusion.

일반 기준 단단한 씨는 일반쓰레기 예시 복숭아씨·살구씨·감씨

Onion, Garlic, and Corn Husks and Stalks

Onion, Garlic, and Corn Husks and Stems

Regions often apply guidelines that prohibit food waste disposal for tough, fiber-rich parts like onion skins, garlic skins, corn husks, and corn stalks. They are common items discarded during food preparation, making it easy to toss them into the food waste bin, but forming the habit of collecting them separately in general waste bags makes separation easier. However, exceptions can exist based on local ordinances and collection methods. While this is a good baseline, checking local community office guidelines, apartment bulletin boards, or RFID collection notices can help avoid unnecessary confusion.

일반 기준 일반쓰레기 이유 질긴 섬유질·분해 어려움

Coffee Grounds and Tea Bags

Coffee grounds, green tea and black tea bags, and herbal medicine remnants are more akin to residues left after extraction rather than edible leftovers, and tea bags may contain foreign substances like paper, plastic, and string. Many local governments advise disposing of these as general trash, and sufficient drying can reduce odor and weight. However, exceptions can exist based on local ordinances and collection methods. While this is a good baseline, checking local community office guidelines, apartment bulletin boards, or RFID collection notices can help avoid unnecessary confusion.

일반 기준 일반쓰레기 관리 팁 물기 말린 뒤 배출

Egg and Quail Egg Shells

Eggshells and Quail Egg Shells

Eggshells and quail egg shells are frequently produced during cooking but are advised to be disposed of as general trash rather than food waste. Even if they may appear food-like when crushed, they can be viewed as foreign substances unsuitable for feed or composting. If odors are a concern, it’s best to shake off moisture and dispose of them along with general trash. However, exceptions can exist based on local ordinances and collection methods. While this is a good baseline, checking local community office guidelines, apartment bulletin boards, or RFID collection notices can help avoid unnecessary confusion.

일반 기준 일반쓰레기 예시 달걀껍데기·메추리알 껍데기

Kimchi, Fermented Fish, and Sauces

Kimchi, Fermented Seafood, and Sauce

Salty foods like kimchi, fermented seafood, soybean paste, and chili paste can put additional strain on food waste processing even when disposed of as food waste, so many guidelines recommend rinsing them and removing moisture beforehand. Instead of throwing out highly seasoned foods as they are, it's better to minimize liquid and foreign substances and remove as much moisture as possible to prevent leachate in bags. However, exceptions can exist based on local ordinances and collection methods. While this is a good baseline, checking local community office guidelines, apartment bulletin boards, or RFID collection notices can help avoid unnecessary confusion.

일반 기준 헹군 뒤 음식물쓰레기 주의 지역별 예외 확인

Soft Fruit Peels like Watermelon, Tangerine, and Banana

Soft Fruit Peels, like Watermelon, Mandarin, and Banana

Peels from fruits like watermelon, mandarin, and banana, which are relatively soft and easy to decompose, can often be disposed of as food waste. However, larger items like watermelon rinds need to be cut into smaller pieces and have moisture removed for smooth collection and processing. Hard peels from pineapples or coconuts are often classified as general trash, so distinguishing between these is necessary. However, exceptions can exist based on local ordinances and collection methods. While this is a good baseline, checking local community office guidelines, apartment bulletin boards, or RFID collection notices can help avoid unnecessary confusion.

일반 기준 부드러운 껍질은 음식물쓰레기 관리 팁 잘게 자르고 물기 제거

When remembering the separation standards, it helps to consider whether 'animals can eat it', 'can it be easily crushed or decomposed in processing facilities?', and 'is there excessive salt or foreign substances?'. Items that are hard like shells, bones, seeds, and tea bags often end up as general trash. Conversely, large but easily cut and dried items like watermelon rinds can be disposed of as food waste, so familiarizing yourself with the standards for each item can reduce concerns about fines and the burden on processing facilities.

한눈에 보기 8개

Meat Bones and Fish Bones

일반쓰레기 · 단단하고 분해가 어려움

Shells of Clams, Oysters, Crabs, and Shrimp

일반쓰레기 · 물기 제거 후 배출

Hard Seeds like Peach, Apricot, and Persimmon

단단한 씨는 일반쓰레기 · 복숭아씨·살구씨·감씨

Onion, Garlic, and Corn Husks and Stalks

일반쓰레기 · 질긴 섬유질·분해 어려움

Coffee Grounds and Tea Bags

일반쓰레기 · 물기 말린 뒤 배출

Egg and Quail Egg Shells