Government hands off disposable cup deposit scheme to local authorities

Used disposable cups are seen in a coffee shop. Korea Times file

By Jung Da-hyun

The government will not enforce a deposit scheme for disposable cups, which was initially meant to be mandatory and scheduled to start in 2025, instead passing the responsibility to local governments.

According to the Ministry of Environment, it plans to take its next steps based on opinions from local governments and the development of the disposable cup deposit system in Jeju Special Self-Governing Province and Sejong City.

The deposit system for disposable cups, which has been in a trial phase in Jeju and Sejong since December 2022, involves an additional charge of 300 won (22 cents) for customers at coffee shops who choose disposable cups and receive a refund upon returning them.

Controversy grows as a bill was introduced to the National Assembly's Environment and Labor Committee on Aug. 25. This bill proposed that the deposit system for disposable cups should be autonomously implemented by each local government based on their specific circumstances.

Critics argue that the mandatory enforcement of the disposable cup deposit system, which had already been suspended in June 2022, may effectively be withdrawn.

Meanwhile, the results of the trial period of this system show differences in Jeju and Sejong. The return rate of disposable cups was 36 percent in Sejong and 40 percent in Jeju during the first month of implementation. As of August this year, Jeju saw a significant increase in the return rate, reaching 64 percent, while Sejong recorded a rate of 45 percent.