How to Dispose of Ceramic Plates & Porcelain Dishes & Earthenware Clay Pots
- 1Ceramic tableware, porcelain plates, earthenware pots (ttukbaegi), and clay flowerpots cannot be recycled with glass bottles due to high melting temperatures.
- ✓Small amounts should be wrapped in newspaper and discarded in general trash bags, while bulk amounts require non-combustible PP bags.
How to Dispose (5 Steps)
- 1
Small quantities (1-2 items): Wrap chipped or broken porcelain dishes securely in 3-4 layers of newspaper, seal firmly with tape, and discard in general household trash bags.
- 2
Bulk quantities (dinnerware sets, heavy planters, moving cleanout): Purchase heavy-duty non-combustible waste sacks (woven PP bags) from local community centers, designated convenience stores, or hardware shops.
- 3
Never mix into glass bottle recycling: Ceramic clay, earthenware, and heat-resistant glass have distinct melting points that contaminate glass recycling furnaces.
- 4
Puncture prevention: Place sharp broken ceramic shards inside empty milk cartons or cardboard boxes before placing them into waste bags.
- 5
Worker safety labeling: Write 'Caution - Broken Ceramics' visibly on the exterior of the trash bag to protect municipal sanitation workers from cut injuries.
Real-World Examples
Chipped coffee mug (1 item): Wrap tightly in 3 sheets of newspaper, tape securely, and toss into general household trash bag
Broken clay earthenware pot (ttukbaegi): Pack inside a sturdy cardboard box and discard in general trash or non-combustible PP sack
Bulk set of 20 old ceramic dinner plates from moving cleanout: Purchase a 20L or 50L non-combustible woven PP bag at a local community center or convenience store
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Why can't ceramic and porcelain dishes be placed in glass recycling bins?
A. Ceramics and porcelain are fired non-combustible minerals crafted from kaolin clay at extreme temperatures above 1,200°C. Because their chemical composition and melting points differ completely from soda-lime glass bottles (approx. 1,500°C), introducing them into glass furnaces creates solid unmelted inclusions that ruin recycled container integrity and cause equipment malfunction.
Q. Where can I purchase non-combustible waste bags (PP woven sacks) in Korea?
A. You can purchase official non-combustible sacks (bul-yeon-seong ma-dae) at local Community Service Centers (Dong Community Centers), designated convenience stores (GS25, CU, 7-Eleven), supermarkets, or local hardware stores. Pricing typically ranges from ₩1,000 to ₩1,500 for 10L, ₩2,000 to ₩3,000 for 20L, and approx. ₩5,000 for 50L bags.
Q. Can I dispose of broken ceramic flowerpots along with potting soil in non-combustible sacks?
A. Yes. Ceramic planters, terracotta pots, dry soil, sand, and gravel are non-burnable waste and should be placed together inside non-combustible sacks. However, organic plant stems, leaves, and roots should be separated and discarded in standard general trash bags.