On 30/3, Kim Sung-hwan, Minister of Climate, Energy and Environment of South Korea, reassured the public that there was no need to worry about a shortage of standard trash bags. "The government has taken all necessary measures," he wrote on Facebook.

In recent weeks, South Koreans have been panic buying trash bags, with purchases of general and food waste bags increasing two to three times. This concern spread due to a naphtha shortage caused by the ongoing Middle East conflict. Naphtha, a petroleum derivative, is a key raw material in plastic and nylon bag production.

In South Korea, residents must purchase designated trash bags for sorting household waste, which includes general, food, and recyclable waste. Last week, convenience store chain CU announced that sales of food waste bags and general bags on 22-24/3 surged by 153% and 216%, respectively, compared to the previous week.

Residents place items into a 20-liter trash bag at a supermarket in Seoul, South Korea, on 30/3. Photo: News1

GS25 also reported an 183% increase in food waste bag purchases and a 234% increase in general trash bag purchases. At 7-Eleven and Emart24, average purchases rose by 169% and 177%, respectively.

The naphtha supply chain disruption has compelled many large chemical companies in the country to consider temporarily halting or reducing production, according to Bloomberg. Early last week, LG Chem temporarily suspended operations at one of its three naphtha plants. South Korea imports about one-half of its naphtha from the Middle East. This raw material is used in various modern products, from plastic packaging and building materials to textiles, home appliances, and petroleum processing.

The government and local authorities are working to calm the public, asserting that the supply of trash bags remains stable. On 29/3, the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment announced that nearly 54% of South Korean municipalities have sufficient trash bag supply for six months. On average, each locality has enough bags for over three months.

Officials also dismissed concerns about a naphtha shortage, explaining that nylon bags are made from polyethylene (PE), a material that can be produced using recycled raw materials, in addition to the method of decomposing naphtha during oil refining.

"The domestic recycled material volume is sufficient to produce approximately 1,83 billion nylon bags, exceeding the 1,78 billion bags consumed in 2024," the Ministry stated. This means South Korea can maintain production for over one year using only recycled materials.

Despite these assurances, local authorities have restricted wholesale and retail sales of trash bags. A convenience store in Guro district, Seoul, limited customers to one bag each on 25/3 due to low inventory. They increased the purchase limit to 10 bags on 29/3 after the district office boosted supply.

A notice limiting the number of trash bags per person at a large supermarket in Daegu, South Korea, on 25/3. Photo: Newsis

A city official suggested that the trash bag shortage is temporary, driven by a sudden surge in demand. Authorities limited purchases to 10 bags per person because continued large-scale buying could quickly deplete store stocks. Seoul's 25 districts can secure 69 million bags, equivalent to about four months of supply.

Seongnam city, Gyeonggi province, restricts each retailer to one weekly bulk purchase of trash bags, with a maximum order of 10 packs or 100 bags. With 14 different types of bags for household, food, and reusable waste, retailers can import a maximum of 1,400 bags per week. For residents, the city also limits purchases to 10 bags per day.

Cheorwon county, Gangwon province, limits purchases to two bags per person. In the tourist city of Jeonju, North Jeolla province, authorities plan to allow residents to use regular nylon bags for household waste starting mid-4. The city will also impose fines of up to 3 million won (approximately 1,990 USD) for excessive purchasing or reselling of trash bags.

Kang Sung-jin, an economics professor at Korea University, emphasized the importance of clear communication to consumers. "If people believe that raw materials are running out, buying more than needed can lead to an actual shortage," he said.

Meanwhile, Kim Dong-chun, CEO of LG Chem, urged the government to establish a national naphtha reserve system. PE is a primary material in various products, including water pipes and food packaging. "We need to build a national reserve system and an institutional framework to stabilize supply," Kim said.

South Korea completely banned naphtha exports on 28/3. All domestically produced naphtha is restricted from being sold abroad, even under existing contracts.

Minister Kim Sung-hwan stated that the government has prepared solutions for a worst-case scenario, including allowing the use of ordinary nylon bags instead of standard ones. "There will be no situation where people have to pile up household waste at home," Kim affirmed.

Bao Bao (according to KoreaTimes, Chosun, Bloomberg)