---
title: "Gimpo Kimchi-Making Waste: Food vs. General Waste Bags"
locale: en
category: knowledge_base
category_name: "Knowledge Base"
translation_status: reviewed
license: cc_by
author: "Injoys Editorial Team"
source_url: https://injoys.com/en/articles/kimjang-waste-gimpo-cabbage-disposal-rules
published_at: 2026-11-06T01:06:40+09:00
---

# Gimpo Kimchi-Making Waste: Food vs. General Waste Bags

> In Gimpo, outer napa cabbage leaves with soil on them go in pay-as-you-throw general waste bags. Remove as much moisture and salt as possible from napa cabbage, radish, and salted seafood before placing them in pay-as-you-throw food waste bags.

## Key Points

- In Gimpo, outer napa cabbage leaves with soil on them go in pay-as-you-throw general waste bags.
- Remove as much moisture and salt as possible from napa cabbage, radish, and salted seafood before placing them in food waste bags.
- Green onion, garlic, and onion roots and skins, along with chili pepper stalks, stems, and seeds, go in general waste bags.
- Blue bags for markets and shops, clear bags, and mesh vegetable bags cannot be used for waste disposal.
- For items that are difficult to classify, check with Gimpo's Resource Circulation Division at 031-980-2765.

In Gimpo City, soil-covered outer cabbage leaves from kimjang waste go in pay-as-you-throw bags for general waste. Cabbage, including salted cabbage, radishes, and salted seafood go in food waste bags. Remove as much moisture and salt as possible before disposing of food waste.

The classifications and fine amounts in this article are based on Gimpo City’s notice dated October 30, 2026.

## Gimpo City’s Bag Requirements by Item

Gimpo City specifies different bags for cabbage, radishes, and salted seafood versus soil-covered outer cabbage leaves. Even materials used for kimjang are classified differently depending on the type of waste. The rules below apply to Gimpo City.

| Item and condition | Disposal bag | Preparation requirements |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Cabbage, radishes, and salted seafood | Pay-as-you-throw food waste bag | Remove as much moisture and salt as possible |
| Bulky vegetables | Pay-as-you-throw food waste bag | Chop finely and squeeze out the moisture before disposal |
| Vegetable scraps and seasoning ingredients | Pay-as-you-throw food waste bag | Separate the items designated as general waste below |
| Soil-covered outer cabbage leaves | Pay-as-you-throw general waste bag | Keep separate from cabbage classified as food waste |
| Roots and skins of green onions, garlic, onions, and similar vegetables | Pay-as-you-throw general waste bag | Keep separate from the edible parts of vegetables |
| Chili pepper stalks, stems, and seeds | Pay-as-you-throw general waste bag | Do not mix with food waste just because they are seasoning ingredients |
| Animal bones and fish bones | Pay-as-you-throw general waste bag | Separate from food waste |
| Clam, oyster, and crab shells | Pay-as-you-throw general waste bag | Separate the contents from the shells |

[Gimpo City’s “2026 Guide to Disposing of Kimjang Waste in Gimpo City”](https://m.gimpo.go.kr/portal/selectBbsNttView.do?bbsNo=292&key=999&nttNo=1035411) states:

> Remove as much moisture and salt as possible from cabbage, radishes, salted seafood, and similar items before disposal.

## Sorting Outer Cabbage Leaves by Condition

The cabbage parts that Gimpo City’s notice explicitly classifies as general waste are soil-covered outer leaves. Salted cabbage is handled according to the food waste disposal rules for cabbage. Whether vegetables have been salted is not enough on its own to determine which bag to use for all vegetables.

| Situation | How to decide |
| --- | --- |
| Soil-covered outer leaves are removed during trimming | Use a general waste bag |
| Salted cabbage is left over | Remove as much moisture and salt as possible and dispose of it as food waste |
| Trimming cabbage or radishes produces scraps | Apply the food waste rules, but separate items designated as general waste |
| The outer leaves differ from the example in the notice, making classification unclear | Describe their condition to the Resource Circulation Division and confirm |

Do not assume that all outer leaves must go in general waste bags simply because they are outer leaves. The notice specifies that outer leaves classified as general waste are “soil-covered.” It does not separately explain whether washing off the soil changes their classification.

## Steps for Disposing of Vegetables as Food Waste

Reduce the volume of vegetables classified as food waste and remove moisture and salt before disposal. Gimpo City explains that removing moisture reduces odors and leachate. Leachate is contaminated water that drains from waste.

1. First separate roots, skins, seeds, and other items designated as general waste.
2. Finely chop bulky vegetables classified as food waste.
3. Remove as much moisture and salt as possible from cabbage, radishes, and salted seafood.
4. Squeeze the moisture out of the vegetables, then place them in a pay-as-you-throw food waste bag.

The notice does not specify how many times to rinse items or give a numerical salt limit. It is therefore not possible to say that washing them a certain number of times meets the requirements. If the preparation details are unclear, check with the Resource Circulation Division.

## Examples of Separating Waste Produced Together

Waste from a single kimjang session may need to go in different bags. One example is when both soil-covered outer leaves and salted cabbage are left over. Do not combine them in one bag simply because they came from the same ingredient.

| Waste produced together | What goes in general waste | What goes in food waste |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Soil-covered outer leaves and salted cabbage | Soil-covered outer leaves | Salted cabbage with moisture and salt removed |
| Radish trimmings and green onion roots | Green onion roots | Radish trimmings with moisture removed |
| Salted seafood and clam or oyster shells | Clam or oyster shells | Salted seafood with moisture and salt removed |

## Using Nonstandard Bags and Common Mistakes

Gimpo City states that waste put out in nonstandard bags will not be collected. Such disposal may result in a fine of at most 1,000,000 won. This is the upper limit stated in the notice, not an indication that every violation carries the same fine.

- Blue bags used by markets and shops cannot be used for waste disposal.
- Clear bags and vegetable mesh bags are not approved disposal bags either.
- Even with pay-as-you-throw bags, you must distinguish between food waste and general waste bags.
- Chili pepper seeds left over from preparing seasonings are also designated as general waste.
- Gimpo City’s rules must not be applied as disposal rules for other areas.

Bags used to bring vegetables home must be distinguished from bags used to put waste out for collection. A vegetable mesh bag is not an approved disposal method even if it contains only vegetables. Use a pay-as-you-throw bag appropriate for the items being discarded.

## Checking the Notice Date and Contact Details

This guide is based on October 30, 2026, the date the notice was posted. The last-modified date at the bottom of the page differs from the posting date. When citing the content, check both the notice’s title and its posting date.

The contact information in the body of the notice also needs to be distinguished from the information at the bottom of the page. The department named in the body is the Resource Circulation Division. For questions about item classification, call 031-980-2765.

| Information to check | Where and how to check |
| --- | --- |
| Notice posting date | The posting date field in the notice |
| Department and phone number for classification inquiries | The contact section in the body of the notice |
| Items that are difficult to classify | Describe the ingredient, the part, whether it has soil on it, and whether it has been salted |
| Disposal days, times, and locations | Check the disposal guidance for your area or contact the Resource Circulation Division |
| Bag capacities and special collection schedules | Check whether Gimpo City has issued guidance specifying these details |

This notice does not specify disposal times or an end date for special collection. Do not apply other areas’ temporary rules allowing general waste bags. Bag capacities and the use of waste disposal fee stickers also cannot be determined from this notice alone.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Does salted cabbage go in a general waste bag?

Salted cabbage goes in a pay-as-you-throw food waste bag. Remove as much moisture and salt as possible from cabbage. If it is bulky, chop it finely and squeeze out the moisture.

### Do green onion, garlic, and onion skins also count as food waste?

Gimpo City classifies the roots and skins of green onions, garlic, onions, and similar vegetables as general waste. Do not put them in food waste bags simply because they came from kimjang ingredients. Chili pepper stalks, stems, and seeds are also designated as general waste.

### Can all kimjang waste go in large general waste bags during kimjang season?

Gimpo City’s current notice instructs residents to use different bags depending on the item. It does not allow all kimjang waste to go in general waste bags. Special collection guidance from other areas is not a basis for disposal in Gimpo City.

### Can I also find disposal times and locations in this notice?

This notice does not specify disposal times or locations. Check the separate disposal guidance for your area. If you cannot confirm the details, contact Gimpo City’s Resource Circulation Division.

## FAQ

### Which bag should outer cabbage leaves with soil on them go in in Gimpo City?
Outer cabbage leaves with soil on them go in pay-as-you-throw bags for general waste. Gimpo City's notice explicitly specifies soil on the leaves as a condition for classifying them as general waste.

### How should salted cabbage and leftover radishes be disposed of?
Cabbage and radishes go in pay-as-you-throw bags for food waste. Remove as much moisture and salt as possible. Cut bulky vegetables into small pieces, then squeeze out the moisture thoroughly before putting them in the bag.

### Are green onion roots and garlic and onion skins food waste?
Gimpo City's notice classifies roots and skins from green onions, garlic, onions, and similar vegetables as general waste. Put them in pay-as-you-throw bags for general waste for disposal.

### Which bag should chili pepper seeds and stems go in?
Chili pepper stalks, stems, and seeds go in pay-as-you-throw bags for general waste. Do not mix them with food waste just because they came from preparing seasonings.

### Can salted fermented seafood and clam and oyster shells be disposed of together?
They must go in separate bags. Remove as much moisture and salt as possible from salted fermented seafood and dispose of it as food waste. Clam, oyster, and crab shells are classified as general waste.

### Will waste be collected if it is put out in mesh vegetable bags or clear bags?
Gimpo City explicitly states that waste put out in nonstandard bags, such as mesh vegetable bags or clear bags, will not be collected. According to the notice dated October 30, 2026, a fine of at most 1 million won may be imposed.

### Can all vegetables be put in general waste bags during kimchi-making season in Gimpo City too?
This notice provides separate lists of items classified as food waste and general waste. It does not permit all vegetables to be put in general waste bags. Temporary disposal rules from other areas must not be applied to Gimpo City.

### Do outer leaves become food waste if they are washed?
The notice does not specify whether washing soil off outer leaves changes their classification. Describe the condition of the material and check with Gimpo City's Resource Circulation Division at 031-980-2765.

### What are the waste set-out times, and when does special collection end?
The notice dated October 30, 2026 does not specify waste set-out times or the end date for special collection. Check the separate disposal instructions for your residential area or contact Gimpo City's Resource Circulation Division.

## Sources

- [Gimpo City Resource Circulation Division, 2026 Gimpo City Guide to Disposing of Kimchi-Making Waste, October 30, 2026](https://m.gimpo.go.kr/portal/selectBbsNttView.do?bbsNo=292&key=999&nttNo=1035411)

## Images

![An older woman in a courtyard puts soil-covered napa cabbage leaves into a separate sack.](https://injoys.com/rails/active_storage/blobs/proxy/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6Mzg0MTgsInB1ciI6ImJsb2JfaWQifX0=--53f3ffc10debffb493913193fd27043e76e3c310/ai-23ee3e6c.webp)
![A man squeezes water from napa cabbage with both hands over a colander in a kitchen sink.](https://injoys.com/rails/active_storage/blobs/proxy/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6Mzg0MjEsInB1ciI6ImJsb2JfaWQifX0=--985cfafdfcc2097dfd993723df4585d845f7e448/ai-8acac4f0.webp)