The ubiquitous use of disposable wet wipes across South Korean households and businesses is incurring an environmental toll that has raised alarms. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Mar. 25 (Korea Bizwire) – The ubiquitous use of disposable wet wipes across South Korean households and businesses is incurring an environmental toll that has raised alarms, with a recent government study estimating that the annual cost of managing the resulting waste has reached a staggering 1.78 trillion won.
The findings, contained in a report commissioned by the Ministry of Environment on “Establishing an Optimal Management Plan for Disposable Wet Wipes,” underscore the challenges posed by the widespread reliance on these single-use products, which are difficult to recycle and often end up incinerated or landfilled.
According to the study, 317,000 tons of wet wipes were produced for use in restaurants and cafes in 2022, while 1.29 million tons were produced for personal hygiene purposes in 2019, based on household consumption rates.
Factoring in the significant weight reduction of up to 77 percent that occurs as the wipes dry out, researchers calculated the annual waste generated from these products to be around 80,000 tons and 323,000 tons, respectively.
Unlike ordinary tissue paper, wet wipes commonly incorporate plastic-based fibers like polyester, making them a complex waste stream. While some household wipes are made from plant-based pulp or rayon, a survey of 78 manufacturers found that 87.2 percent used a blend of polyester and rayon, citing durability and cost advantages over pure cellulosic alternatives.
With no viable recycling technologies currently available for these fiber-based products, and their classification as a personal hygiene item precluding separate collection, the vast majority of used wet wipes end up being treated as general municipal solid waste, incurring substantial disposal costs.
Disposing of wet wipes from restaurants costs around 35.5 billion won annually, while those from households add another 142.8 billion won to the tally. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
Extrapolating from the average handling fee of 414 won per kilogram for collection, transportation and processing of residential waste, the report estimates that disposing of wet wipes from restaurants costs around 35.5 billion won annually, while those from households add another 142.8 billion won to the tally.
As a wider ban on the direct landfilling of general waste takes effect in the greater Seoul region by 2026 and nationwide by 2030, prompting increased incineration and other treatment, these expenses are anticipated to surge even higher.
The study was initiated to explore potential policy interventions like imposing a waste disposal fee on manufacturers, similar to existing levies on products containing hazardous substances or difficult to recycle materials like plastic and disposable diapers.
However, researchers acknowledged the limited financial viability of such a measure given the fragmented nature of the wet wipe industry, where 64 percent of the surveyed manufacturers reported annual sales below 1 billion won, with 13 percent earning less than 300 million won.
An environment ministry official cited doubts over “whether imposing a waste fee would be effective, given how small most wet wipe makers are,” adding that diverse options were being evaluated to identify the optimal solution.
As South Korea strives to rein in its mounting waste challenges, the report recommends prioritizing voluntary efforts by producers and consumers to reduce consumption and shift toward more sustainable, plastic-free materials – a principle that aligns with the industry’s stated intentions but will require rigorous monitoring.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
