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In a significant environmental achievement, South Korea has ramped up its food waste recycling rate from a mere 2.6 percent in 1996 to an impressive 97 percent in 2023. This transformation has been facilitated through a series of strategic policies and technological advancements over the last three decades.
The journey began in 1995 with the introduction of volume-based fees for waste disposal, which directly linked the cost of waste management to the amount of waste generated by households. This was followed by mandatory food waste separation in 1997 and a landfill ban implemented in 2005. The introduction of RFID smart bins in 2010 allowed residents to track their food waste in real-time, significantly increasing accountability and awareness.
These smart bins, which are now in use across the country, have contributed to the management of around 151,934 bins serving more than 8.61 million households as of 2025. The system not only encourages responsible disposal but also plays a crucial role in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. Food waste in landfills decomposes anaerobically, releasing methane, a potent greenhouse gas. By diverting food waste from landfills to bioreactors, South Korea captures methane for energy use. The Daejeon Bio Energy Centre, for example, converts 70 to 75 percent of its organic waste into energy, sufficient to power approximately 6,000 households daily.
In a parallel move, New York City has initiated mandatory food waste separation for its 3.4 million households starting in October 2024, inspired by South Korea’s model. The city’s approach focuses on access and enforcement through the installation of over 400 solar-powered smart composting bins and extensive community outreach. As of 2025, New York City has managed around 140,000 metric tons of residential organic waste, accounting for roughly 9 percent of the total organic waste produced by households annually.
Despite these efforts, experts suggest that New York City could enhance its composting program by adopting a fee-based accountability system similar to South Korea’s. Such measures could further elevate the city’s food waste recycling rate and contribute to broader environmental goals, as food waste globally accounts for about 10 percent of climate-warming emissions.
South Korea’s successful model serves as an encouraging example for other urban areas grappling with food waste management, demonstrating that a combination of policy, technology, and public engagement can result in substantial environmental benefits.
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