How to Dispose of Chuseok & Seollal Gift Packaging
- 1Holiday gift set packaging generated during Chuseok and Seollal consists predominantly of multi-layer composite materials that cannot be recycled curbside.
- 2Insulated thermal cooler bags permanently fuse exterior non-woven textiles with interior aluminum foil, requiring 100% municipal general trash incineration.
- 3Gel ice packs formulated with superabsorbent polymers (SAP) clog plumbing and pollute waterways, requiring sealed disposal in general trash or designated community drop-off boxes.
- 4Cushioning fruit foam nets and synthetic non-woven tote bags lack recycling market value and belong in general waste bags.
- ✓Only clean white expanded polystyrene (EPS) boxes with all tape and labels removed, alongside drained 100% pure water ice pack vinyl sleeves, can be processed through standard curbside recycling.
How to Dispose (5 Steps)
- 1
Cooler bag: Composite aluminum-vinyl material is non-recyclable; discard in general trash bags.
- 2
Icepack: For 100% water ice packs, drain water and recycle vinyl pouch; for gel ice packs (SAP), place whole inside trash bags or local community collection bins.
- 3
Fruit foam net & bubble wrap: PE foam nets for fruit packaging have no recycling market value; discard in general trash bags.
- 4
Non-woven fabric bag & ribbon strings: Synthetic fabric bags and box handle strings are non-recyclable; throw into general trash bags.
- 5
Styrofoam box: Peel off all tape and shipping labels completely, then recycle clean white styrofoam boxes.
Real-World Examples
Pure water ice pack: Cut open, drain water into sink, and recycle vinyl pouch
Gel ice pack: Do not cut; place whole in general trash bag or drop off at local community ice pack bin
Aluminum cooler bag: Non-recyclable composite plastic; fold neatly and throw into general trash bag
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Can fruit foam net wrappers be recycled with plastic or styrofoam?
A. No. Fruit foam nets are made of expanded PE foam with low recycling market value and must be thrown in general trash bags.
Q. Can non-woven gift bags from Chuseok or Seollal holidays be recycled?
A. No. Non-woven bags are synthetic plastic fibers that cannot be re-pulped or recycled; please discard them in general trash bags.