In South Korea, smart containers with RFID technology have transformed the way citizens manage their food waste. These devices measure waste by the gram and display the weight on a digital screen, forcing users to be aware of how much they are wasting.
Min Geum-nan, a resident of the Gangdong district in Seoul, describes how the routine of scanning her card, opening the container, and seeing the exact weight of the leftovers has changed her habits: “You have no choice but to pay attention because you know exactly what you are wasting.”
A national transformation
In 2023, the country recycled 96.8% of its 4.81 million tons of food waste, according to the Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Environment. This achievement is the result of three decades of policies:
- Landfill ban since 2005.
- Mandatory waste separation.
- Pay-as-you-throw system since 1995.
- Specific processing plants for wet waste.
The landfill crisis in the 1990s forced South Korea to reform its system and innovate with technological solutions.
Impact of RFID containers
Introduced in the 2010s, RFID containers have spread across the country:
- In Seoul, there are 27,289 units, covering 81.6% of residents in apartments.
- Nationwide, 150,738 units serve 8.54 million households in 186 municipalities.
- Food waste in Seoul decreased by 23.9% in a decade, from 3,181 tons daily to 2,419.
Studies in communities show even greater declines: up to 51% less waste in buildings where residents can see and pay for the exact weight of what they discard.
Processing and recycling
Collected waste is processed in underground facilities to minimize odors:
- Grinding and separation of foreign materials.
- Pressing to extract water, which is directed to anaerobic digesters.
- Production of biogas to power the system.
- The remaining solids are turned into chicken feed, compost, or biogas.
Nationally, 42% of recycled food waste is turned into feed, 33% into compost, and 16% into biogas.
Changes in daily life
The system has altered domestic culture. Households seek to reduce the moisture of waste to pay less, using strainers or squeezing leftovers.
Additionally, digital screens encourage portion control: “If the family doesn’t eat everything, next time I prepare less food,” explains Min.
Challenges and future of the system
The program faces challenges:
- Central funding ended in 2014, leaving the burden to municipalities.
- The machines suffer corrosion due to the high salt content in Korean food.
- Smaller municipalities struggle to maintain the system.
Nevertheless, Seoul is committed to reducing food waste by 20% by 2030 and expanding the use of RFID containers to 90% of apartment complexes. Additionally, it plans to introduce a points reward system in 2026, granting credits to households that reduce their waste.
The South Korean model demonstrates that the combination of strict policies, technological innovation, and citizen participation can achieve extraordinary results against food waste. For residents, separating waste is already part of daily life. As Min summarizes:
“Separating food waste from other garbage is obvious. It would be strange not to do it.”
