Revised Guidelines for the Recycling of Lithium-Ion Batteries and Polychlorinated Biphenyls in South Korea's Environmental sector
The South Korean Ministry of Environment (MoE) has taken a significant step in promoting recycling and safer environmental practices by issuing regulatory exemptions for LFP batteries, PCB recycling, and rock wool recycling projects.
These exemptions aim to facilitate the recycling of LFP batteries, reduce strict licensing or notification obligations for PCB recycling, and ease administrative requirements for rock wool recycling.
For LFP battery recycling, the MoE has eased regulations to facilitate the recycling of LFP batteries by exempting certain chemical or handling requirements that otherwise apply to hazardous substances or chemicals under the Chemical Control Act (CCA) or K-REACH frameworks. This allows more streamlined processing and handling consistent with safety.
Similar regulatory relaxations apply to PCB recycling projects, reducing strict licensing or notification obligations, thereby encouraging environmentally sound disposal and reuse methods for PCBs, which are toxic chemical substances under regulatory scrutiny.
Rock wool, a synthetic mineral fiber often used in hydroponics and insulation, has also been granted an exemption from licensing and notification obligations. This reflects its classification and common uses, reducing the burden on recycling projects focusing on this material.
These exemptions are part of a broader set of regulatory amendments finalized in mid-2025 that aim to balance public safety with industry efficiency. The enforcement decrees of the Act on Registration and Evaluation of Chemical Substances (K-REACH) and the Chemical Control Act (CCA) were amended to clarify exemption conditions, expand hazard classifications, and ease administrative requirements for chemical management and recycling projects.
If selected, companies can proceed with pilot testing under relaxed rules. The ministry aims to test the technical and commercial feasibility of recycling LFP batteries, with a view to revising the existing legal framework if the trials prove successful.
Due to unclear classification under current regulations, PCBs without chips are labeled as synthetic waste, while those with chips are categorized as electronic waste, creating barriers to uniform recycling. This initiative is part of South Korea's growing commitment to advancing its circular economy and clean tech sectors through regulatory reform.
Notably, the regulatory sandbox framework is noteworthy as it was identified based on industry feedback. The current waste management laws require recycled materials to contain at least 10% nickel by weight, a standard LFP batteries often fail to meet.
This article focuses on Business Development in the battery market. The MoE's current regulatory exemptions for these three sectors remove or ease licensing, notification, and certain handling obligation requirements, facilitating recycling processes while still maintaining safety and environmental protections.
This news marks a significant step in South Korea's commitment to promoting recycling beyond LFP batteries and electronic waste, underscoring its dedication to a greener and more sustainable future.
The Ministry of Environment's (MoE) regulatory exemptions for LFP battery recycling also extend to environmental science, as safer handling and processing of LFP batteries are encouraged without compromising safety.
The relaxed regulations for PCB recycling are not only beneficial for the industry, but also for the climate-change mitigation efforts, considering that PCBs are toxic substances under regulatory scrutiny.
Technology and finance sectors may also experience positive implications from these regulatory exemptions, as ease in administrative requirements could lead to increased investment and innovation in environmentally friendly recycling projects.
