Sejong, November 14 - On November 4, the Ministry of Environment (ME, Minister Han Wha-jin) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the project for recycling clear plastic bottles using parcel delivery services. The agreement aims to improve the recycling system where high-quality plastic bottles discharged from hotels can be recycled more and achieve a circular economy based on the cooperation between government agencies and private companies. The agreement is significant because it established the public-private partnership to recycle plastic bottles discharged from hotels. It is the second agreement, followed by the agreement on the separate disposal of plastic bottles in apartment complexes and single-family houses, signed in December 2020 and in December 2021. 

The project for recycling plastic bottles using a parcel delivery service is to collect clear plastic bottles discharged from hotels through logistics networks and recycle them into high-quality products such as cosmetic containers or plastic bottles. The project will be carried out for about six months, from November 2022 to April 2023.

The Ministry of Environment will manage the whole process of the recycling project. At the same time, the related institutions encourage and instruct hotel guests to participate in the separate disposal of clear plastic bottles. They will also analyze and evaluate the project's sustainability. On the other hand, hotels will build and operate a system for the separate disposal of clear plastic bottles so that the bottles will not be contaminated or mixed with other wastes. CJ Logistics will collect the clear plastic bottles utilizing its existing logistics networks and delivery those to a recycling company, RM Corporation. RM corporation and H2 Inc. will produce recycled raw materials from clear plastic bottles. Aromatica will make and sell items using recycled containers, while White Tigers will operate the resource circulation funds and donate the entire profit to society. 

On the other hand, guests can easily participate in the project by disposing of clear beverages or water bottles at designated places (on the room table, waste bins in front of elevators, etc.) while using hotel rooms. The cosmetics using containers made from recycled clear plastic bottles will be sold online (aromatica.co.kr) from 2023, and related promotional events will be held so that anyone can buy them at partnering hotels of the project.

The Ministry of Environment assesses the project as the first case of establishing a recycling system for clear plastic bottles discharged from businesses. The ministry has plans to evaluate the sustainability and possibility of expanding the project based on the results.

Yoo Je-chul, Vice Minister of Environment, said, "Recycling into high-value-added items is a must, not an option when single-use plastics will be phased out." He added, "The Ministry of Environment will further reinforce the circular economy policy as we support efforts of public and private sectors and improve the recycling system for high-quality waste together with relevant industries."

Contact: Seo Yoon-young, Deputy Director

Municipal Waste Management Division / +82-(0)44-201-7422

Foreign Media Contact: Chun Minjo(Rachel)

+82-(0)44-201-6055 / rachelmchun@korea.kr