The times to dispose of trash and days trash is picked up will all vary significantly depending on where you live. Apartment complexes will have a dedicated area with separated recycling containers and may be restricted for use only on certain days.

The sign at this apartment tells residents that recycling is only to be thrown out from Tuesday 2 PM until Wednesday 9 AM.

In this apartment, recycling is allowed between Tuesday from 5 PM and Wednesday at 3 AM and warns people that a CCTV camera has been installed to make sure people use the official stickers for electronics and large items.

For all other types of residences, the norm is to find the places on the side of the street where people put their general trash bags, their food trash bags, and recyclables. The days and hours for these may also be restricted. For disposal near the side of the road, all recyclable items must be placed inside transparent or semitransparent bags. Ask your landlord for pertinent information on garbage so you don’t unknowingly break any trash or recycling rules.

For obvious reasons, businesses don’t want piles of trash in front of their stores. For this reason, you might see some signs telling people not to dump their trash here and warning that you are being recorded. If you cannot read the Korean, look for “CCTV” as that in itself is a warning. Even if trash is located there, be wary before trying to use that location as it might be allowed certain times but not others. Take a picture of the sign and show a co-worker so you don’t get neighbors mad at you or end up with a fine.