In 1992, the Republic of Korea established a "Waste Treatment Charge System" aimed at making manufacturers consider the full environmental impact of their products at the production stage. Under the system, manufacturers must pay non-refundable fees on "products and containers which are difficult to collect, treat, or recycle, or likely to render waste management generally difficult" to the Special Account for Environment Improvement. Products covered under the system include those made of synthetic resins, chewing gum, confectionery products, antifreeze, fluorescent lamps and batteries that fail to satisfy specific standards set for the products, disposable diapers, cigarettes, toxic substance containers, and cosmetics containers. Table 6 lists the product categories covered by the charge system and the level of fees.

Facts to Act On #41, Asian Countries Jump on the EPR Bandwagon (January 25, 2002)
Institute for Local Self-Reliance