South Korea: A Leader in Waste Recycling

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Adi Ahdiat 20/11/2023 18:50 WIB

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According to the 2022 Environmental Performance Index, South Korea has the best global performance in waste recycling.

Top 10 Countries with the Highest Waste Recycling Rates according to EPI (2022)

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South Korea: A Leader in Waste Recycling

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Top 10 Countries with the Highest Waste Recycling Rates according to EPI (2022)

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South Korea has the best global performance in waste recycling.

This is recorded in the 2022 Environmental Performance Index report, a research collaboration between Yale University, Columbia University, and the McCall MacBain Foundation.

The Environmental Performance Index (EPI) team measured recycling rates in 180 countries.

Recycling rates reflect the proportion of used materials (metal, plastic, paper, and glass) recycled in each country, assessed with a score on a scale of 0-100.

A score of 100 indicates that a country has recycled all or 100% of these used materials. This means that the higher the score, the better the recycling performance is assumed to be, and vice versa.

In 2022, South Korea had a recycling rate score of 67.10, the highest among all countries researched.

The EPI team noted that South Korea has a waste management policy called *jongnyangje*.

This policy requires households to sort their waste into several categories, such as organic waste that can be composted, and other recyclable materials.

Residents who do not comply with these regulations can be fined, and residents who report violators can receive incentives.

South Korea also prohibits the use of certain single-use plastic items, provides designated disposal points for plastic bottles, and requires plastic producers and importers to be responsible for their product waste.

Plastic producers and importers in South Korea are required to pay recycling support fees. These fees are then channeled to recycling companies according to the quantity and category of waste processed.

"South Korea is well-positioned to maintain high recycling rates and continue its commitment to strengthening the circular economy," wrote the EPI team in its report.

Besides South Korea, other countries with high recycling rates include Samoa, Benin, Iceland, Australia, Vanuatu, Singapore, the Philippines, Germany, and Vietnam, with scores as shown in the graph.

Meanwhile, Indonesia only achieved a recycling rate score of 15.20 in 2022. This achievement is lower than the global average score of 19.94, placing Indonesia 96th out of 180 countries.

Editor : Adi Ahdiat

"Disclosure: This is an AI-generated translation of the original article. We strive for accuracy, but please note that automated translations may contain errors or slight inconsistencies."

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South Korea: A Leader in Waste Recycling

South Korea: A Leader in Waste Recycling

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South Korea: A Leader in Waste Recycling

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