The government is revising its waste import and export management system to stabilize the supply chain of critical minerals and promote a circular economy. The aim is to prevent the overseas leakage of valuable waste resources while facilitating the import of materials needed for domestic industries, thereby strengthening the resource circulation system.
The Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Environment announced on July 15 that it will issue an administrative notice from July 16 to August 5 regarding amendments to the 'Act on the Movement of Waste Across National Borders and the Treatment of Waste' and the 'Notification on Waste Items Restricted for Import to Promote Domestic Waste Recycling.'
According to the proposed amendments, exporters of scrap metal and non-ferrous metals will be required to file waste import and export declarations. Previously, these items were exempt from reporting because they were not classified as business waste, but this loophole has been exploited to disguise copper scrap and electronic waste as scrap metal for export.
Notably, a case was uncovered in 2024 where copper scrap was falsely reported as scrap metal and smuggled to China, highlighting the need for stricter management. Moving forward, exporters will need to undergo procedures such as waste component analysis and submission of export contracts, allowing the government to manage the export of valuable waste resources more systematically.
Conversely, the import procedures for circular resources needed for domestic recycling will be simplified. Under the Circular Economy Transition Promotion Act, items designated as circular resources, excluding waste paper and waste glass, will be exempt from import reporting. This means that used cooking oil and waste integrated circuit (IC) trays will now be included in the list of items exempt from reporting.
However, waste paper and waste glass will continue to be subject to the current reporting system to stabilize the domestic recycling market. The government expects that the reporting exemptions will reduce analysis costs and administrative burdens for the industry, enabling quicker access to recycling materials.
Additionally, some restrictions on imports will be adjusted. Reflecting the challenging industrial conditions for securing recycled polyester raw materials, waste polyester synthetic fibers will be removed from the import ban list. Furthermore, imports for testing and research purposes, such as quality inspections and technology development, will be allowed as exceptions.
The government plans to finalize the amendments after gathering stakeholder feedback and regulatory reviews, with implementation set for January 1 of next year. It anticipates that this system overhaul will contribute to enhancing resource security and promoting a circular economy.
Kim Go-eung, Director of the Resource Circulation Bureau at the Ministry of Climate, stated, "This revision aims to tightly manage the export of valuable waste resources while facilitating imports to strengthen the domestic supply chain of critical minerals. We will continue to pursue regulatory rationalization to ensure that domestic industries can easily secure high-quality waste resources as needed."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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