Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police to Intensify Crackdown on Illegal Scrap Metal Dealers Starting from May 16

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hun] The Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police Unit will conduct an intensive investigation into illegal activities, including waste abandonment and dumping, targeting recycled waste collection businesses (commonly known as scrap metal dealers) from May 16 to 27 throughout the province.

The investigation comes as indiscriminate waste collection by scrap metal dealers has proliferated due to recent rises in raw material prices, leading to illegal abandonment and dumping.

Key investigation areas include ▲abandonment and dumping of waste remaining after sorting and separation ▲collection, transportation, and recycling of waste outside permitted categories without authorization ▲entrusting waste generated during operations to unqualified (unlicensed) waste processors ▲operating scrap metal businesses of a certain size (2,000 square meters or larger) without reporting to the relevant municipal or provincial government ▲violations of waste treatment standards and methods, such as storing waste in a scattered manner, and other similar offenses.

Under the Waste Management Act, illegal dumping of business waste is subject to imprisonment of up to seven years or a fine of up to 70 million won.

Collecting, transporting, and recycling waste requiring authorization without permit is subject to imprisonment of up to five years or a fine of up to 50 million won; entrusting waste to unlicensed processors is subject to imprisonment of up to three years or a fine of up to 30 million won. Operating scrap metal businesses of 2,000 square meters or larger without reporting or violating waste treatment standards and methods is subject to imprisonment of up to two years or a fine of up to 20 million won.

Kim Min-gyeong, head of the Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police Unit, stated, “Most commonly seen recycled waste collection businesses in daily life operate on sites smaller than 2,000 square meters and are excluded from waste disposal reporting requirements, placing them in a regulatory blind spot,” adding, “Through this investigation, we plan to prevent waste abandonment and dumping in advance and ensure that recycled waste collection businesses fulfill their proper role as part of the circular economy.”

The Gyeonggi Province Civil Life Special Judicial Police Unit is accepting reports of illegal activities from residents through its website (www.gg.go.kr/gg_special_cop) or the Gyeonggi Province Call Center (031-120).