Limit Single-use Waste, South Korea Launches Used Glass Return Reward Program

JAKARTA - To reduce single-use waste and save resources, in the country's efforts to combat the climate crisis, the South Korean Government launched an application to reward people who return disposable cups after use.

Using a new smartphone app, a new initiative by the Ministry of the Environment, allows customers at coffee shops across the country to return used coffee cups in exchange for cash.

With each cup returned, the app pays customers back a "resource circulation deposit" worth 300 won (24 cents). This app is available on Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

The trial service comes ahead of the introduction of the service as the new environmental policy begins June 10. The policy is the result of the revision of the country's Resource Recycling Law last June.

The trial service started with four coffee shops in Sejong on May 6, and will be expanded to more shops interested in providing the service, with plans to run through June 9.

Participating stores first provide cups with barcodes. Users with cups to return can scan the barcode of the cup at the kiosk in the store.

Then scan other barcodes displayed in their app to identify themselves. Then the app transfers the deposit directly to their bank account. If users want to get paid back in cash, they can request it from the employees in the store.

The app, developed by the Resource Recycling Division under the ministry's Bureau of Resource Circulation, also shows how much deposits users have accumulated, as well as where the nearest location for returning used cups is based on the user's current location.

Apart from that, the app also allows users to help themselves instead of requiring them to look for employees in stores to get paid.

"This new app will minimize the hassle for consumers looking for cash prizes and store employees who have to accept returned cups," said Hong Dong-gon, head of the Resource Circulation Bureau, according to the Korea Times May 5.