Before coming to South Korea, I researched the trash and recycling system to familiarize myself with it. The national policy seemed simple with recyclables, waste, and paper going into separate bins. However, it much more complicated than that; even after living here for the past four months, I haven't been able to figure it out completely. Let's not forget that, for a start, the instructions are all written in Korean!
After living here, I've learned that each district has its own official garbage bag, so you will have to use the one that is exclusive to the neighborhood you live in. General garbage bags are white, but some may differ depending on the district. Yellow is for food waste. Recyclables are usually separated in various different containers. If a location does not provide separate recyclable bins, residents can collect all their recycling in any plastic bag and then leave it in the designated area.
Interestingly enough, the yellow bag for food waste was introduced in order to make the citizens of South Korea more conscious about the amount of food they throw away.
