Pharmacies and Bookstores to be Under Recycling Regulations

Providing vinyl or paper bags free of charge at pharmacies, bookstores, and shops smaller than 33 square meters will be prohibited from November, the Ministry of Environment released on May 24.
The Ministry said that 303 department stores and convenient stores have violated regulations introduced on February 22, and up to 3 million won in fines will await any further transgressions.
According to the ministry's report, pharmacies, bookstores, and shops smaller than 33 square meters, which were excluded from the previously-imposed regulation, will now fall under restrictions.
The ministry will crackdown on the multitude of small shops in traditional markets and entertainment stores that have shown low compliance records from next month.
The report said that 95 percent of department stores and convenient shops abided by the regulation that calls on stores to charge for plastic bags previously provided for free.
However, the system needs improvement because a lot of stores are not recycling the used bags.

Jooan Kang : jooan@joongang.co.kr