Since 1995, the use of specific industrial products prescribed by Presidential Decree has been restricted to prevent worsening sewage water quality and kitchen waste grinders are included in the specific industrial products; accordingly, specific details such as sales and the prohibition of using kitchen waste grinder products ruled only by Notification of the Ministry of the Environment.
Although in 2012, certified products among kitchen waste grinders which can collect 80% of solids of food waste discharging 20% of it are allowed to be used since the prohibition of the use of kitchen waste grinders in 1995, the system such as the product certification and follow-up management is ruled by Notification but not Act.
However, there are obstacles in the follow-up management because of difficulties in enforcing strong punishment, etc., under the nature of the current system that the management of the Illegal modification of certified products which are based on the partial collection of food waste and the sales and promotion of uncertified products is ruled by the current Notification. It needs improvements such as enacting the system that is currently ruled by Notification into the Act and complementing several weaknesses such as follow-up management methods for uncertified products.

Details

A. Newly insert the definition of "kitchen waste grinder" (Article 2, subparagraphs 16 and 17)
B. Raise the current Notification provisions related to the certification system such as the certification of kitchen waste grinders, revocation of certification, mark of certification, periodical inspection, and certification fee to Act (Article 33, Article 33-2 to Article 33-4, Article 70, and Article 74 (2))
C. Strengthen the management by newly inserting the provision of orders such as collection and destruction of unauthorized products and products that fail to meet certification criteria (Article 33-3 (2))
D. Strengthen the effectiveness of legal punishment subdividing penalty and penalty surcharge provisions for violations of the certification system by activities (Article 76, Article 77, and Article 80)

Article 33 (Certification of Kitchen Waste Grinders) (1) No person shall manufacture, import, sell, install, use, etc., kitchen waste grinders to prevent blockage of sewage culverts, worsening of water quality, and recycling of foods waste: Provided, that this shall not apply to cases where any of the following arise:

Article 33-2 (Certification of Kitchen Waste Grinders) (1) Any person who intends to manufacture (including those who manufacture abroad and export to the Republic of Korea, the same shall apply hereinafter) or import certified products for kitchen waste grinders shall receive a certification from the Minister of Environment in advance for each product, and the same shall apply to any change in the matters prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Environment.