South Korea has almost zero food waste. Here’s what the US can learn

In the US, most food waste ends up in landfills while South Korea recycles close to 100% annually, and its model could illustrates some core principles

Every few months or so, 69-year-old Seoul resident Hwang Ae-soon stops by a local convenience store to buy a 10-piece bundle of special yellow plastic bags.

Since 2013, under South Korea's mandatory composting scheme, residents have been required to use these bags to throw out their uneaten food. Printed with the words designated food waste bag", a single 3-liter bag costs 300 won (about 20 cents) apiece. In Hwang's district of Geumcheon-gu, curbside pickup is every day except Saturday. All she has to do is squeeze out any moisture and place the bag by the street in a special bin after sunset.