Bottle Deposit Returns: 30-Bottle Rule and Store Conditions =========================================================== Empty bottles eligible for a deposit refund can be returned to retailers that sell the same type of deposit-bearing product. Proof of purchase allows an exception for returns of more than 30 bottles per day. There are also rules based on business hours, instructions for using reverse vending machines, and procedures for reporting refusals. - Check the deposit markings on empty bottles and remove any remaining contents and foreign matter. - Find a store that sells the same type of deposit-bearing product or a return facility listed in official guidance. - To return more than 30 bottles in a day, bring a receipt or other proof that you bought them at that store. - Hand the empty bottles to the store or follow the instructions on a reverse vending machine to collect your deposit refund. - If your return is refused even though you meet the requirements, document what happened and contact the official reporting center. You can get your empty-container deposit back by returning empty bottles bearing the deposit mark to a retailer. Visit a store that sells the same type of deposit-bearing product during business hours. Any bottles beyond 30 per day require proof of purchase from that store. The amounts are based on products shipped or imported on or after January 1, 2017, as listed in the center's guidebook. Preparing Empty Bottles and Returning Them Prepare empty bottles with clearly visible deposit marks, making sure they are completely emptied. A purchase receipt is not required for ordinary small-quantity returns. This is not a support program with a separate application period. Check the bottle label for deposit refund wording and a reuse mark. Empty the contents and remove foreign matter, and set broken bottles aside. Find a store that sells the same type of deposit-bearing product. If you are returning more than 30 bottles per day, bring proof that you bought them at that store. At the store's return area, check the bottle count and marked amounts, then collect your deposit. You can find reverse vending machines and return collection points on the center's official map. Select empty-container returns under the return support service on the website. Check the facility's operating information before visiting. Resource Circulation Deposit Management Center Empty-Container Return Guide The Difference Between Deposit-Eligible Bottles and Ordinary Glass Bottles A bottle does not qualify for a deposit refund simply because it is made of glass. The deposit system refunds money paid when purchasing the product. Collected bottles are inspected, washed, and otherwise processed for reuse. Category Marks and condition to check How to handle Deposit-eligible empty bottles Refund wording and reuse mark; suitable for reuse Return to a retailer or other location that meets the conditions Glass bottles not eligible for a deposit Ordinary glass bottles without a deposit eligibility mark Dispose of them according to local recycling rules Damaged, broken, or contaminated bottles Difficult to reuse or impossible to confirm eligibility Check their condition, as returns may be refused Bottles distributed through commercial channels Distribution channels for bottles used at restaurants and similar businesses Check separately whether they can be returned to ordinary retailers Wholesalers directly collect empty bottles from products that did not pass through retailers. Do not count bottles from restaurants together with ordinary household bottles. For bottles with worn-off marks, it is best to ask about eligibility first. Appendix 5 of the Enforcement Rule Deposit per Bottle and a Calculation Example The deposit amount for eligible bottles varies by capacity. The table below applies to products shipped or imported on or after January 1, 2017. For older bottles, also check the amount actually marked on the bottle. Capacity Deposit per bottle Less than 190mL 70 won At least 190mL but less than 400mL 100 won At least 400mL but less than 1,000mL 130 won At least 1,000mL 350 won Suppose you return 30 eligible bottles marked with a deposit of 100 won. The calculation is 100 won × 30 bottles, giving a refund of 3,000 won. The bottles' condition and the types of products sold by the store must also meet the return requirements. Handling fees are separate costs paid by producers to wholesalers and retailers. They are not added to the deposit consumers receive. Calculate the consumer refund by adding up the deposits for each bottle. Resource Circulation Deposit Management Center System Guide Comparing Conditions by Place of Purchase and Quantity Bottles bought elsewhere are also eligible for return if the store sells the same type of product. Here, “same type” does not mean only the same brand. The center lists the categories as fermented alcoholic beverages, distilled alcoholic beverages, beverages, and drinking water. Situation Return criteria Purchased at another store, at most 30 bottles per day Eligible for return if the store sells the same type of deposit-bearing product Purchased at another store, more than 30 bottles per day The portion exceeding 30 bottles may be refused Purchase at that store confirmed, more than 30 bottles per day Bottles with confirmed purchase cannot be refused solely because they exceed the quantity limit Only the brand differs If it is the same type of deposit-bearing product, a different brand alone is not grounds for refusal The store does not sell the same type of deposit-bearing product You cannot assume that the store is required to accept the return In every case, both deposit eligibility and bottle condition are checked. Proof of purchase does not remove the conditions concerning damage or contamination. Refer to the center's guidebook for details on determining the same type of product. Empty-Container Deposit Guidebook Appendix 5 of the Enforcement Rule defines the scope of quantity-based refusal as follows. When the same person returns more than 30 bottles in 1 day (limited to the portion exceeding that number). Appendix 5 of the Enforcement Rule of the Act on the Promotion of Saving and Recycling of Resources This rule does not allow the entire return to be refused simply because it exceeds 30 bottles. If purchase at that store is confirmed, an exception also applies to the excess bottles. You can check the relevant wording in Appendix 5 at the National Law Information Center. Empty Bottle Collection Days and Business Hours Bottles that meet the return conditions can be returned during store business hours. Stores must not limit returns to specific days or times. The daily quantity limit and restrictions on return times are separate issues. Store notice Criteria for assessment Returns accepted only on designated days Inconsistent with the principle of accepting returns during business hours Store is open, but returns are accepted only at designated times Check whether the refusal is based on a time restriction Store is closed Outside the scope of the principle of accepting returns during business hours Bottles beyond 30 per day are not accepted Check whether the exception for confirmed purchases at that store applies You must also distinguish the wholesaler's schedule for collecting bottles from the store. That schedule does not determine which days consumers can return bottles. This assessment distinguishes the obligation to accept consumer returns from the wholesaler's collection process. Local Government FAQ on Return Hours Getting a Refund Through a Reverse Vending Machine With a reverse vending machine, you insert bottles and use the printed receipt to collect your refund. The center's FAQ instructs users to collect the refund in cash at that store's customer service desk. Check machine locations through the official return support service. Select reverse vending machines on the empty-container return map. Remove bottle caps and any foreign matter inside the bottles. Insert eligible bottles according to the instructions on the machine's screen. Check the returned quantity and amount, and collect your receipt. Present the receipt at that store's customer service desk to receive cash. If the machine does not recognize a bottle, ask a staff member to check it. Do not assume that a bottle is legally ineligible for return simply because the machine rejected it. The marks and bottle condition need to be checked again. Resource Circulation Deposit Refund Reporting Center FAQ Comparing Empty Bottle Return Receipts and Purchase Receipts Purchase receipts and receipts printed by reverse vending machines serve different purposes. A purchase receipt confirms that you bought the product at that store. A machine receipt is used to collect the deposit after inserting bottles. Category When issued When used Purchase receipt When purchasing the product To confirm purchase at that store for bottles beyond 30 per day Reverse vending machine receipt After inserting empty bottles To collect the deposit at that store's customer service desk The center's guidebook separately explains receipts from supported return machines. A receipt showing the machine number for that store can be used to request a refund even after the day it was issued. Keep the printed receipt until you receive the money. Empty-Container Deposit Guidebook Inquiries and Reporting Procedures When Bottle Returns Are Refused If your return is refused despite meeting the conditions, contact the official reporting center. The phone number for advice and reports is 1522-0082. You can also report the refusal to the city, county, or district office with jurisdiction. Check whether the reason for refusal concerns quantity, product type, or bottle condition. Record the date and time of your visit, along with the store's name and address. Prepare materials showing the number of bottles and the condition of their marks. If proof of purchase is at issue, gather purchase receipts and other relevant materials. Under the reporting center's report submission menu, select refusal of empty-container returns. Submit online reports through the Empty-Container Return Refusal Report Form. After submission, the facts are reviewed and the result is communicated. Filing a report alone does not guarantee payment of a reporting reward. FAQ Q. Do I have to return empty bottles only to the store where I bought them? A. You can also return them to other stores that sell the same type of products with a deposit. However, other conditions, such as quantity and bottle condition, must also be met. Q. Do I need a purchase receipt for a regular return? A. A purchase receipt is not required for regular returns of at most 30 bottles per day. To qualify for the purchase-location exception for bottles beyond 30, you need proof that you bought them at that store. Q. If I bring more than 30 bottles, can the store refuse all of them? A. Only bottles beyond 30 per day can be refused solely on the basis of quantity. If it is confirmed that you bought them at that store, those excess bottles cannot be refused on the basis of quantity either. Q. Do I have to follow instructions to return empty bottles only on certain days of the week? A. As a rule, bottles that meet the return conditions can be returned during store business hours. If a store refuses returns by accepting them only on specific days of the week or at specific times, you can contact the official reporting center. Q. Can I return bottles of brands that the store does not sell? A. If the store sells the same type of products with a deposit, it cannot refuse a return solely because the brand is different. Check both whether the store sells the same type of product and whether the bottle is eligible for a deposit refund. Q. Can I get a deposit refund for bottles that are broken or missing their labels? A. Returns may be refused if damage, breakage, or contamination makes reuse difficult. A bottle may also be refused if it is not possible to confirm that it carries a deposit. Q. Where do I submit the receipt from a reverse vending machine? A. Present it at the store's customer service desk to receive cash. Check the instructions on the machine and at the store for the refund location. Q. Can a reverse vending machine receipt be used only on the same day? A. The center's guide describes the process for reverse vending machines that the center installs and supports. If the receipt includes the machine number for that store, you can request a deposit refund even after the day you returned the bottles. Q. Do I receive a handling fee in addition to the deposit? A. Consumers receive a refund of the deposit that applies to the bottle. The handling fee is a separate cost paid by producers to wholesalers and retailers. Q. Who should I contact if my return is refused? A. Contact the Resource Circulation Deposit Refund Reporting Center at 1522-0082 or your local city, county, or district office. You can also file a report through the "Submit a Report" menu in the online reporting center. Sources - Resource Circulation Deposit Management Center: Empty Container Deposit System and Deposit Amounts by Container Size: https://www.cosmo.or.kr/menu.es?mid=a10201000000 - National Law Information Center: Enforcement Rule of the Act on the Promotion of Saving and Recycling of Resources, effective June 22, 2026: https://www.law.go.kr/LSW//lsInfoP.do?ancYnChk=0&chrClsCd=010202&efYd=20260622&lsiSeq=287435&urlMode=lsInfoP - Enforcement Rule, Attached Table 5: Requirements for Businesses Subject to the Deposit System and Others, amended October 1, 2025: https://law.go.kr/LSW/flDownload.do?bylClsCd=110201&flSeq=159546027&gubun= - Resource Circulation Deposit Management Center: Empty Container Deposit Guidebook: https://www.cosmo.or.kr/galleryDownload.es?bid=0003&list_no=453&mid=a10404000000&seq=1 - Resource Circulation Deposit Refund Reporting Center: FAQ on Using Reverse Vending Machines and Reporting Refusals to Accept Returns: https://www.cosmo.or.kr/singoFaqList.es?mid=a30502000000 - Resource Circulation Deposit Management Center: Locations of Empty Container Return Collection Points and Reverse Vending Machines: https://www.cosmo.or.kr/returnServiceMap.es?mid=a10301000000&srh_tr_category01=0201010000 - Resource Circulation Deposit Refund Reporting Center: Reporting Refusals to Accept Empty Container Returns: https://www.cosmo.or.kr/board.es?mid=a30301000000&bid=0010&act=form - Local Government FAQ: Can Supermarkets Set Specific Hours for Empty Container Returns?: https://www.seohae.go.kr/open_content/main/bbs/bbsMsgDetail.do?bcd=faq&msg_seq=84&pgno=20 Images - A middle-aged man lowers a green bottle into a return crate beside a store clerk, holding a bag of bottles.: https://injoys.com/rails/active_storage/blobs/proxy/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6MzE5OTEsInB1ciI6ImJsb2JfaWQifX0=--be0f3e8059f6871109e7ab234b199bb7dab2db47/ai-c4f185b9.webp - A woman in a burgundy jacket feeds a green glass bottle into a return machine at a supermarket entrance.: https://injoys.com/rails/active_storage/blobs/proxy/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6MzE5OTgsInB1ciI6ImJsb2JfaWQifX0=--b5d2dd36fde1e0f642aaad36e47e678c3d9d9fb4/ai-50a2b4b0.webp --- Category: How-to Source: https://injoys.com/en/articles/empty-bottle-deposit-30-bottle-return-conditions License: cc_by Translation-Status: reviewed