Bin BuddyFree iPhone app for foreigners
Recycling in Korea,made easy.
Scan or search any item to see its bin, and get your neighborhood's pickup times.
Covers every district in Korea, in 5 languages.
Not sure which bin? Scan it.
Buddy tells you what it is and which bin it goes in. It all happens on your iPhone, so your photos never leave it.
Works offline
Know when to put your trash out.
Official times for your neighborhood, a reminder on trash nights, and a Lock Screen widget.
Times come from the official data each district publishes on data.go.kr.
Every bin, and what goes in it.
345 everyday items across 16 bins and pickups, each with the Korean word to look for.
Easy to mix up
Chicken bonesWhere does it go?
Not food waste: bones are too hard for food-waste machines. Pull any leftover meat off into food waste.
EggshellsWhere does it go?
Not food waste: shells are too hard to process. Duck and quail eggshells too.
Pizza boxWhere does it go?
Tear off greasy or food-stained parts for general waste and recycle the clean rest.
Delivery food containerWhere does it go?
Once food and oil are rinsed off, a faint stain is fine. The stretchy wrap on top is PVC, so it goes in general waste.
- General waste
Food waste
Clear PET bottles- Plastic
Plastic bags & film
Styrofoam- Paper & cardboard
Cartons
Glass bottles
Cans & scrap metal
Clothes & shoes
Small electronics
Large appliances
Bulky waste
Batteries, lamps & medicine
Non-burnable waste
Throwing out furniture or a fridge?
Bin Buddy shows you each step, and what to say in Korean.
FurnitureSee the usual fee, book a pickup and put the sticker on.
AppliancesFridges, washers and TVs are collected free from your home.
Your building managerPolite Korean messages, ready to copy.
Free to use. Pay once for unlimited scans.
The guide, pickup times, reminders and widgets are all free, and so are your first 3 scans.
- No subscription
- No account
- Shared with your family
Questions
Does it cover my neighborhood?
Yes. Every district in Korea is in, down to its collection areas. Where a district hasn't published its times, Bin Buddy says so and links to its official page.
Will it work on my iPhone?
Yes, if it runs iOS 27 (Settings > General > Software Update). Every iPhone on iOS 27 gets the full guide, search, pickup times and reminders. Scanning also needs Apple Intelligence, on iPhone 15 Pro or newer.
Do my photos get uploaded?
No. Photos are read on your iPhone and never sent anywhere.
Is it a subscription?
No. One payment unlocks unlimited scans, and Family Sharing covers your household.
Which languages?
English, Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese and Japanese.
Trash night, sorted.