South Korea to Add Plastic Toys to EPR Recycling Scheme from 2026

South Korea will expand its Extended Producer Responsibility or EPR recycling program to include plastic toys beginning Jan. 1, 2026, following Cabinet approval of revisions to the Resource Recycling Act Enforcement Decree, according to a news release on Tuesday.

Under the revised rules, manufacturers and importers of plastic toys will be required to finance and manage the collection and recycling of end-of-life products. Plastic toys were previously excluded from mandatory EPR obligations.

Under EPR, producers contribute financially to the Korea Packaging Recycling Cooperative to meet their recycling obligations. The cooperative, in turn, allocates recycling subsidies to recycling companies based on their performance.

The measure will apply to 18 toy categories, including activity toys, construction sets, model kits, puzzles and craft toys. The government has set a standard recycling cost of 343 won ($0.23) per kg, reflecting estimated collection, transport, sorting and processing expenses.

The move is intended to improve recycling rates for plastic toys, which have often been incinerated or landfilled despite being recyclable. Recycling cooperatives will distribute EPR payments to certified recyclers based on processing performance.

For consumers, disposal practices will remain unchanged. Non-electronic plastic toys may be placed with general plastic recyclables, while battery-powered or electronic toys must be handled through designated small appliance recycling channels to eliminate the risk of fire or explosion.

The expansion is part of South Korea’s broader effort to strengthen its circular economy framework and increase producer responsibility across plastics product categories.

—Reporting by Xin Nee Chua, xchua@opisnet.com; Editing by Mei-Hwen Wong, mwong@opisnet.com