What is the Korea EPR System?

EPR is short for Extended Producer Responsibility

Act No. 6653

The Republic of Korea (South Korea) established the Extended Producer Responsibility System through amendments to the Act on the Promotion of Saving and Recycling Resources.

Effective since January 2003, the EPR system applies to a specified list of products and packaging materials. The initial list of EPR products included TVs, refrigerators, air conditioners, laundry machines, personal computers, tires, lubricating oil, metal cans, glass bottles, paper packs and plastic packaging materials (such as PET bottles). The list of EPR products has expanded in phases, including fluorescent light bulbs and packaging film in 2004, audio products and cellular phones in 2005, and printers, copiers and fax machines in 2006. Legislation is pending to expand the EPR system to include automobiles and all electrical and electronic products by July 2007 (read more).

The EPR system is a systematic effort to hold producers accountable for the entire life cycle of their products by creating economic incentives to do so. Producers pay the costs for recycling their products and receive mandatory recycling targets that must be met. This gives producers the incentive to design easy-to-recycle products and to reduce the amount of waste through innovations in product design and materials use.

Under the EPR system, producers and importers must pay for the mandatory recycling of their products. Domestic producers with a yearly output of less than approximately $870K (USD) and importers with imports of less than $260K are exempt from EPR.

In September of each year, the Ministry of Environment (MOE) publishes the "total mandatory recycling quantity" for each EPR product, based upon the quantity of goods or packaging materials produced, the quantity previously recycled, and the capacity of the recycling infrastructure.

The MOE assigns each producer a mandatory recycling quantity based upon market share and amount of packaging materials used. Producers can meet their obligations by directly recycling products or by joining a Recycling Business Mutual Aid Association.

Producers who fail to meet their full mandatory recycling quantity must pay recycling dues to the MOE. Recycling dues reflect the actual cost of recycling the unmet portion plus a 30% surcharge. A 5% penalty is added if the recycling dues are not paid within 30 days of notice. Producers must submit annual recycling plans in November and annual progress reports in March.

Retailers of EPR products must collect the consumer's used products and the  packaging material for the consumer's new purchase free of charge.

EPR packaging materials, such as metal cans, glass bottles, paper cartons and plastic, must be clearly marked as to the material content, whether it is plastic (PET, HDPE, LDPE, PP, PS, PVC or other), metal (steel or aluminum), paper or glass.

This summary of Korea's EPR system is designed to provide you with an accurate, easy-to-understand overview of the topic and does not constitute legal advice. The actual standard in the original language should be reviewed and used for all business, legal, and product compliance purposes.

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