The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment announced on June 21 that it will publish a legislative notice for amendments to the Waste Management Act's enforcement decree and rules from June 22 to August 3.
The key aspect of this amendment is the expansion of safety standards, which previously applied only to local governments or their contracted companies, to include private collection and transportation firms. This will affect companies collecting household waste from schools, kindergartens, daycares, and apartment complexes with over 300 units.
According to the amendment, cleaning vehicles will be required to have rear-view cameras, proximity alarms, and reverse warning devices installed. This will help drivers better see pedestrians around their vehicles, while pedestrians will be able to recognize vehicle movements more quickly. For claw trucks, mirrors or video monitoring devices must be installed to check for people within the working radius.
New management standards for work sites will also be established. During waste collection operations, safety signs, standing signs, and boundary markers must be set up to inform pedestrians that work is in progress. Additionally, companies must coordinate with facility managers to avoid working during peak times, such as school arrival and departure hours or rush hours. Work schedules and vehicle types must also be communicated in advance.
Personnel standards will be strengthened as well. Currently, some private companies have no specific personnel requirements, but moving forward, at least two workers must operate as a team. However, exceptions will apply for cleaning vehicles with a maximum load of 2 tons or claw trucks that can adequately check for pedestrian access within their working radius.
The responsibility for safety management will also be expanded for operators. Companies involved in the collection and transportation of household waste will be required to conduct safety training at least once a month and perform regular inspections of vehicle safety devices. The government and local authorities may provide support for labor costs, safety equipment, vehicle purchases, and the installation of safety devices to ensure compliance with safety standards.
Additionally, efforts will be made to improve regulations to promote waste recycling. The use of plant-based residues for cosmetics and chemical product manufacturing will be added to recycling categories, broadening the scope for related industries. Furthermore, the permitting process will be simplified for using agricultural byproducts in the production of solid fuels from livestock waste, reducing the burden on the industry.
Considering the challenges of securing new landfill sites, the ministry plans to relax standards for excavating and sorting waste at existing landfills for recycling purposes and clarify the requirements for technical personnel in waste management.
The Ministry will finalize the amendments after gathering opinions during the legislative notice period and undergoing review by the Legislation Office, with the new regulations set to take effect on November 12.
Kim Go-eung, head of the Resource Circulation Bureau at the Ministry, stated, "While we will strengthen necessary safety regulations for waste collection, transportation, and processing, we will actively improve regulations to accommodate reasonable demands from the field to promote the circular use of waste."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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