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Welcome to the Korea Waste Association.
I am Oh John-Cook, the 5th President of the Association.

The Korea Waste Association is a non-profit statutory organization established in 2008 under Article 58-2 of the Waste Management Act. It serves as a governance-based platform that brings together the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment and its affiliated agencies, local governments, waste-related companies, associations and cooperatives, as well as academic societies.

The Association was established to promote sustainable waste management by fostering effective communication and cooperation among its members. To this end, we carry out a wide range of functions, including waste generation surveys, research and evaluation, as well as public outreach and education, and the dissemination of best practices in legal and technical domains.

Climate change is one of the most pressing environmental challenges facing the global community. In response, more concrete and robust approaches—such as carbon neutrality, the circular economy, and ESG—are shaping global trends and driving transformative change across all sectors of society in Korea.

In particular, the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment is implementing forward-looking policies under the Act on Promotion of Transition to a Circular Economy Society, focusing on minimizing waste generation at the design and production stages, enhancing recyclability, and maximizing reuse and recycling at the consumption stage. In addition, under the Waste Management Act, innovative measures have been introduced, including the phased ban on direct landfilling since 2006.

In this rapidly evolving policy and market environment, the Association will continue to support its members in responding effectively to domestic and international changes, while also identifying new opportunities. We will further strengthen collaboration and communication among our members to enhance collective capacity and resilience.

Thank you.

the 5th President of the Association
Oh John-Cook