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Throw away garbage bags worries, gov't says amid Middle East conflict

Published: 30 Mar. 2026, 19:13

Garbage bags are seen at a grocery store in Seoul on March 29. [YONHAP]

The government on Monday urged the public not to worry about possible shortages of standard plastic garbage bags, despite the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

"You don't have to worry about a shortage of standard garbage bags. The government has taken all necessary measures," Minister of Climate, Energy and Environment Kim Sung-hwan said in a Facebook post.

The minister's remarks came as a worrisome phenomenon has recently emerged in which people are trying to hoard standard plastic garbage bags, amid a sharp rise in polyethylene prices, a key material used to make plastic bags.

In Korea, only garbage bags approved by public institutions can be used to dispose of general household waste under the volume-based garbage disposal system.

Kim assured that if approved, waste bags are in short supply, the government will allow the use of regular plastic bags for waste disposal.

"The government has taken all necessary measures, such as allowing the use of regular bags, in case of the worst-case scenario. There will never be a situation where trash piles up at home," Kim said.

He then firmly stated that there would be no increase in standard plastic bag prices, adding, "Bag prices are determined by local government ordinances, so factories cannot arbitrarily raise them."

"I saw [retailers] limiting the number of standard garbage bags sold per person during my visits to convenience stores and supermarkets over the weekend. But I would like to reiterate that you do not need to worry about a shortage of garbage bags," the minister said.

The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment's recent survey showed that 54 percent of 228 local governments hold a six-month supply of standard garbage bags. It has also been found that recycling companies have sufficient recycled polyethylene to make 1.83 billion plastic bags.

Yonhap