South Korea is one of the countries that has a sustainable and environmentally friendly waste management system, so it should be followed by other countries. Currently, South Korea is one of a number of countries that apply the concept of a circular economy, a production and consumption model that involves the concept of recycling, renewing, improving existing materials and products as long as possible until they reach the end of their useful life. According to a professor from the Department of Environmental Engineering at Kyonggi University, South Korea, Rhee Seung-whee, his country has been building a waste management system and policy since 1985. At that time, the South Korean government began to introduce the concept of recycling and segregation of waste types to the public. One of South Korea's motivations for establishing a waste management system, said Rhee, was because the amount of national waste stockpiles continued to increase every year until now it has reached almost half a million tons. Rhee explained the amount of waste in South Korea increased from 346,669 tons/day in 2007 to 497,238 tons/day in 2012.
"That's the motivation why we used to apply the recycling concept and switch to a circular economy society," said Rhee at the Indonesia Korea Journalist Network 2021 workshop held by the Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia (FPCI) some time ago. In 2018, Rhee said that South Korea has also begun to implement the Act on Resource Circulation, which has begun to introduce a system for utilizing goods to a waste management system for households. In the workshop in collaboration with the Korea Foundation Jakarta, Rhee also explained how the circular economy concept works. He explained that the flow of waste management such as separation, disposal, collection, and recycling of waste is carried out by the local government.
"Separation (of waste) is the main key to successful waste management with a circular economy concept. That way, waste factories can easily recycle and repair waste that still has use value," said Rhee.
If the waste separation practice is guaranteed, Rhee said that waste reduction and recycling activities can be carried out in a sustainable manner so that it can reduce the amount of waste circulating. Rhee admits that there are many difficulties in making people care about the circular economy concept, especially regarding sustainable waste management. It took 35 years to finally have a policy and a sustainable waste management system with a circular economy concept like this. Moreover, Rhee said that there were no penalties for residents who violated the rules for managing their household waste. This creates a deterrent effect and minimal public awareness regarding waste management. Many South Koreans, said Rhee, still think that household waste management is not a serious matter.However, he said the government was continuing to carry out campaigns and outreach to the community and school levels in order to raise public awareness about the importance of managing personal and household waste properly.
"So starting from kindergarten, elementary school, the residents have been introduced and taught (about circular economy for plastic waste management). Every year there is a learning about circular economy, mandatory sessions. The government also cooperates with NGOs and several public figures such as artists to promote this together. , said Rhea.
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