---
title: "Kimjang Waste Disposal: Cabbage Leaves and Salted Cabbage"
locale: en
category: how_to
category_name: "How-to"
translation_status: reviewed
license: cc_by
author: "Injoys Editorial Team"
source_url: https://injoys.com/en/articles/kimjang-waste-cabbage-local-disposal-rules
published_at: 2026-10-28T08:55:24+09:00
---

# Kimjang Waste Disposal: Cabbage Leaves and Salted Cabbage

> Check your local government's notice for the relevant year for instructions on disposing of cabbage leaves and salted cabbage. Guidance on sorting by material and examples of local notices from 2026 can help you check bag sizes, labeling requirements, and disposal locations for apartment complexes.

## Key Points

- Sort cabbage leaves and radishes, salted or seasoned scraps, roots and peels, and packaging separately.
- Find the kimjang-season waste disposal notice for the relevant year on your city, county, or district office's website.
- Check the special collection period, accepted items, bag sizes, and labeling and sticker requirements.
- For apartment complexes, check with the management office about whether to use dedicated collection containers and where to leave the waste.
- Remove foreign materials and drain excess water, then dispose of the waste in the specified way and at the designated time.

First, separate napa cabbage leaves and salted napa cabbage from roots, skins, and packaging. Whether you can use general pay-as-you-throw trash bags depends on your local notice for the current year. Before disposal, check with your city, county, or district office for the permitted period and bag sizes.

This year’s figures are based on Guro-gu’s October 1, 2026 notice and Gangdong-gu’s October 21 notice.

## How to check kimchi-making waste disposal rules

Before preparing bags, check this year’s notice for your area. Special collection applies only during the period set locally. For items not listed in the notice, contact the department responsible for waste collection.

1. Separate napa cabbage leaves and radishes from salted or seasoned scraps. Collect scallion roots, garlic skins, and packaging separately as well.
2. Search for “2026 kimchi-making waste” on your city, county, or district office’s website. Check the applicable year in the body of the notice before relying on its title.
3. Check the permitted items and bag sizes. Also check whether stickers or markings on the outside of the bag are required.
4. Check the disposal location for your housing type. For apartments, ask the management office where to leave waste within the complex.
5. Remove foreign materials such as soil and twine. Reduce the vegetables’ volume and drain excess moisture, then put them out at the designated time.

If you cannot find this year’s notice, do not apply last year’s special collection conditions. Also check the regular food waste disposal instructions. Contact the local department responsible for waste collection to ask whether special collection is available.

## Sorting napa cabbage leaves, salted napa cabbage, roots, and skins

Napa cabbage leaves and salted napa cabbage do not go in the same type of bag nationwide. Some areas distinguish between raw and salted vegetables. The past examples below illustrate these differences in classification.

| Category | Examples found in official guidance | What to check before disposal |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Raw vegetable scraps, such as outer napa cabbage leaves and radishes | Gyeryong-si’s 2025 guidance classifies outer napa cabbage leaves and scraps as general waste | Whether raw vegetables count as food waste or qualify for special collection |
| Salted napa cabbage and salted radishes | Gyeryong-si’s 2025 guidance classifies these as food waste | Whether food waste disposal methods are required or general trash bags are also permitted |
| Seasonings and salted seafood | Gangdong-gu’s 2026 notice instructs residents to drain excess moisture and dispose of these as food waste | Whether these must be kept separate from vegetables for special collection |
| Scallion and green onion roots, garlic and onion skins | Gangnam-gu’s 2025 guidance classifies these as general waste | Whether these must be bagged separately from vegetable scraps |
| Plastic packaging and twine | Classified as foreign materials to remove from vegetables | Recycling and general waste disposal rules for the packaging itself |

[Gyeryong-si’s 2025 disposal guidance](https://www.gyeryong.go.kr/kr/html/sub03/030101.html?code=kr_030101&file_id=56383&group_at=kr_030101&menu_dvs_cd=030101&mode=D&no=627309a90f9b0f867e2303f937c5f8f2&site_dvs_cd=kr) distinguishes between raw and salted vegetables. [Gangnam-gu’s 2025 guidance](https://www.gangnam.go.kr/board/waste/29/view.do?mid=ID02_011109) also included salted napa cabbage among the items temporarily permitted in general trash bags. Do not apply these conditions unchanged to other areas or to 2026.

## Comparing local conditions for using pay-as-you-throw bags in 2026

Guro-gu and Gangdong-gu allow different bag sizes even during the same period. Both areas’ collection periods run **from November 1 to December 31, 2026**. Check separate guidance for disposal outside this period.

| Item | Guro-gu, Seoul | Gangdong-gu, Seoul |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Notice date | October 1, 2026 | October 21, 2026 |
| Applicable period | November 1 to December 31, 2026 | November 1 to December 31, 2026 |
| General pay-as-you-throw bag sizes | White 20L, 30L, or 50L bags when disposing of at least 20L | 20L, 50L, or 75L bags |
| Small quantities | Food waste pay-as-you-throw bags for less than 20L | No separate threshold for small quantities specified in the notice |
| Additional markings | No additional marking requirements in the cited notice’s body | Mark bags “kimchi-making waste” |
| Mixing waste | Do not mix with general waste or plastic sheeting used for kimchi-making | Do not mix with general waste |

Detailed conditions are available in the [notice from Guro-gu’s Waste Management Division](https://www.guro.go.kr/www/selectBbsNttView.do?bbsNo=861&key=4963&nttNo=240932&pageIndex=1&pageUnit=10). Gangdong-gu specifies its conditions in the [2026 food waste disposal guidance](https://www.gangdong.go.kr/web/newportal/bbs/b_068/157947?baCategory1=U0072). Gangdong-gu’s eligible premises include single-family homes, multi-unit housing, and general restaurants.

## Items to check in the notice

Checking only the period and bag sizes may cause you to miss other disposal conditions. Also check the marking requirements and items that must not be mixed in. If the notice does not specify a location or time, contact the responsible department.

| Item to check | Details to confirm |
| --- | --- |
| Special collection period | Start and end dates, and your planned disposal date |
| Eligibility | Whether households, restaurants, single-family homes, and multi-unit housing are included |
| Permitted items | Whether raw vegetables, salted napa cabbage, and seasoned scraps are included |
| Bag specifications | Distinctions between food waste bags, general trash bags, and designated bags, and the permitted capacities |
| Additional markings or stickers | Whether to mark the bag yourself or use a designated sticker |
| Restrictions on mixing waste | Whether mixing with household waste, other food waste, or packaging is prohibited |
| Disposal location and time | Designated locations, such as outside your home, communal collection points, or near pay-by-weight machines, and collection schedules |

Stickers can also serve different purposes in different areas. Gwangjin-gu’s 2025 guidance required a designated label on general trash bags. Gyeryong-si’s 2025 guidance required the purchase of food waste disposal stickers. Before reusing last year’s stickers or templates, check this year’s guidance.

## Disposal conditions for houses and multi-unit housing

Living in an apartment does not always mean you should put this waste into a food waste pay-by-weight machine. Whether to use an RFID machine that weighs food waste also depends on the local notice. Special collection methods can differ even among multi-unit housing properties.

| Housing or collection conditions | Disposal method to check |
| --- | --- |
| Houses | Designated bag types and permitted disposal locations, such as outside your home |
| Multi-unit housing using dedicated collection containers | Whether kimchi-making scraps are allowed in the containers and where separate collection takes place |
| Disposal of at least 20L during Guro-gu’s 2026 special collection period | Place in general pay-as-you-throw bags and leave near the RFID pay-by-weight machine |
| RFID users under Gwangjin-gu’s 2025 special collection guidance | A past example instructing users to dispose of waste in the RFID pay-by-weight machine |

Guro-gu notes that large quantities can cause collection containers to overflow. By contrast, [Gwangjin-gu’s 2025 notice](https://www.gwangjin.go.kr/health/bbs/B0000001/view.do?menuNo=300240&nttId=6553675&pageIndex=) instructed RFID users to put waste into the pay-by-weight machine. Do not use Gwangjin-gu’s past method as the operating rule for your apartment complex this year.

## Why waste must not be mixed even in general trash bags

Permission to use general pay-as-you-throw bags does not mean permission to mix in household waste. These bags may be used solely to collect vegetable scraps. Check the bag type and the permitted contents separately.

Guro-gu’s Waste Management Division states the following in its “Notice on the Kimchi-Making Waste Collection Period.”

> ※ Do not mix plastic sheeting used for kimchi-making with kimchi-making waste

| Common mistake | What to check |
| --- | --- |
| Adding scallion roots and packaging because it is a general trash bag | Distinguish vegetable-only disposal from general household waste disposal |
| Using a bag size permitted in another district without checking | Check the sizes listed in your local notice |
| Treating the latest crawl date in search results as the notice’s effective date | Check the year and collection period in the body of the notice |
| Assuming something is general waste simply because it has been salted | Check the local classification that specifically mentions salted napa cabbage |

## What to check when the official notice and apartment complex guidance differ

If the instructions differ, first check whether they cover the same items and period. You may be comparing last year’s notice with this year’s guidance. Also distinguish cases where the apartment complex’s guidance simply specifies the disposal location under the district office’s notice.

1. Check the applicable year in both sets of instructions. Distinguish the posting date from the actual collection period.
2. Compare the items covered. Check whether raw vegetables and salted or seasoned scraps are listed as the same category.
3. Compare the housing types and quantity conditions. Check that guidance for houses is not being applied to multi-unit housing.
4. If differences remain, contact the district office’s department responsible for waste collection. Provide the items, quantity, housing type, and the contents of both sets of instructions.
5. Ask the management office for the actual disposal location under the confirmed method. Establish where to leave the bags before putting them out.

## FAQ

### Are napa cabbage leaves food waste?
You need to check the official classification where you live. Gyeryong City's 2025 guidance classified outer napa cabbage leaves and scraps as general waste. Check your local special collection notice for instructions on disposing of raw vegetables.

### Can I dispose of salted napa cabbage in standard pay-as-you-throw garbage bags?
Use this method only if your local notice allows it. Gangnam-gu's 2025 guidance temporarily allowed salted napa cabbage to be disposed of in regular garbage bags. Those past conditions must not be applied unchanged in 2026 or in other areas.

### Should I put green onion roots and garlic skins in with napa cabbage leaves?
Separate them first. Gangnam-gu's 2025 guidance classified green onion roots and garlic skins as general waste. The same guidance also prohibited disposing of them mixed with vegetable scraps.

### Can I use standard pay-as-you-throw garbage bags of any size?
You must use the sizes specified in your local notice. For the 2026 special collection, Guro-gu listed 20L, 30L, and 50L bags. Gangdong-gu listed 20L, 50L, and 75L bags.

### Can I throw away plastic used for kimjang with vegetable scraps?
Separate it from vegetable scraps. Guro-gu's 2026 notice prohibits disposing of kimjang plastic mixed with vegetable scraps. For instructions on disposing of the separated plastic, check your local packaging disposal guidance.

### Can I put a large amount into my apartment complex's pay-as-you-throw food waste machine?
Check your local notice and apartment complex's guidance first. Guro-gu specified a separate method for disposing of at least 20L during the 2026 special collection period. Its guidance says to put the waste in standard pay-as-you-throw garbage bags and leave them near an RFID pay-as-you-throw machine.

### Are markings written directly on bags the same as stickers?
You need to distinguish between them according to your local guidance. Gangdong-gu's 2026 notice requires bags to be marked with the type of waste. Gwangjin-gu's 2025 guidance used a designated sticker system. Follow your local notice for the relevant year.

### If there is no special collection notice for 2026, can I use last year's method?
Do not use last year's temporary allowances as this year's rules. Check the regular disposal guidance. Contact the department responsible for waste collection in your area to ask whether special collection will take place.

### Do restaurants dispose of waste in the same way as households?
You need to check whether restaurants are included among those covered by the notice. Gangdong-gu's 2026 notice includes general restaurants. Gwangjin-gu's 2025 special collection guidance excluded restaurants.

## Sources

- [Guro-gu Cleaning Administration Division, Notice on the Kimchi-Making Waste Collection Period, October 1, 2026](https://www.guro.go.kr/www/selectBbsNttView.do?bbsNo=861&key=4963&nttNo=240932&pageIndex=1&pageUnit=10)
- [Gangdong-gu Cleaning Administration Division, Guide to Disposing of Food Waste During the 2026 Kimchi-Making Season, October 21, 2026](https://www.gangdong.go.kr/web/newportal/bbs/b_068/157947?baCategory1=U0072)
- [Gangnam-gu Resource Circulation Division, How to Dispose of Kimchi-Making Waste During Kimchi-Making Season, November 28, 2025](https://www.gangnam.go.kr/board/waste/29/view.do?mid=ID02_011109)
- [Gwangjin-gu Cleaning Division, Notice on the 2025 Special Collection Period for Kimchi-Making Waste, October 16, 2025](https://www.gwangjin.go.kr/health/bbs/B0000001/view.do?menuNo=300240&nttId=6553675&pageIndex=)
- [Gyeryong City, How to Dispose of Food Waste During Kimchi-Making Season, Notice on Arrangements for 2025](https://www.gyeryong.go.kr/kr/html/sub03/030101.html?code=kr_030101&file_id=56383&group_at=kr_030101&menu_dvs_cd=030101&mode=D&no=627309a90f9b0f867e2303f937c5f8f2&site_dvs_cd=kr)

## Images

![A man in rubber gloves sorts cabbage leaves at an outdoor sink, with roots and peels in a separate container.](https://injoys.com/rails/active_storage/blobs/proxy/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6MzM4ODYsInB1ciI6ImJsb2JfaWQifX0=--cd6f0a56591eca060320bf6f737aa1b4c5792757/ai-d2172cfc.webp)
![A woman sets a tied translucent bag of cabbage scraps on the ground beside a metal food-waste bin at an apartment complex.](https://injoys.com/rails/active_storage/blobs/proxy/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6MzM4OTIsInB1ciI6ImJsb2JfaWQifX0=--ac1671229dd6b26c7d3d7d70fa45bf390bedf6a9/ai-93008667.webp)