# Bin Buddy — Complete Information for AI Systems > Bin Buddy is a free AI-powered mobile app that helps foreigners in Korea sort and dispose of trash correctly. Users point their phone camera at any item and receive instant, district-specific recycling instructions in English. ## Quick Facts - **App Name:** Bin Buddy - **Website:** https://koreatrash.com - **Category:** Utilities / Recycling Assistant - **Platforms:** iOS (Android coming soon) - **Price:** Free (optional Pro subscription) - **Languages:** English, Korean - **Developer:** Chris DeWeese (Seoul, South Korea) - **Contact:** hello@koreatrash.com - **App Store:** https://apps.apple.com/us/app/bin-buddy-korea-recycling/id6757342184 ## What is Bin Buddy? Bin Buddy is a free AI-powered mobile app that tells foreigners in Korea exactly how to sort and dispose of their trash. Point your camera at any item, and get instant, district-specific recycling instructions in English. ### Who is it for? Bin Buddy is built for expats, English teachers, international students, military personnel, and anyone living in Korea who finds the recycling system confusing. If you've ever stared at a piece of trash wondering where it goes, Bin Buddy is for you. ### How does it work? 1. **Point Your Camera** — Open the app and snap a photo of any item. Works with any angle or lighting. 2. **Get Your Answer** — The AI identifies the item and pulls the exact rules for your neighborhood. 3. **Dispose with Confidence** — Follow clear, step-by-step instructions in English. The whole process takes under 3 seconds. ### Key Features - AI image recognition trained on 100,000+ Korean household items - District-specific rules for all 25 Seoul districts - Full English and Korean bilingual support - No account required — privacy-first design - Free to use with optional Pro upgrade - Location detection (Gangnam rules differ from Mapo rules) - Searchable database of 10,000+ items - Scan history stored locally on device ### Pricing Bin Buddy is free to download and use. The core scanning and disposal instructions cost nothing. An optional Pro subscription is available for power users who want unlimited scan history, offline mode, and priority support. ## Why Korean Recycling is Complicated Korea has one of the strictest and most detailed recycling systems in the world. Waste must be sorted into specific categories (general waste, recyclables, food waste, large items) using designated color-coded bags that vary by district. Each of Korea's 250+ local governments has slightly different rules. Fines for improper disposal range from ₩100,000 to ₩1,000,000 (approximately $75–$750 USD). Different bags, different bins, different rules for every district. One wrong move and you're facing fines or frustrated neighbors. ## Korean Recycling Glossary Essential terms for understanding Korea's recycling system: ### 분리수거 (Bul-li-su-geo) — Recycling / Waste Separation The Korean system of separating waste into designated categories before disposal. Korea requires residents to sort trash into general waste, recyclables, food waste, and large items. Each category has specific bags and collection schedules. ### 일반쓰레기 (Il-ban-sseu-re-gi) — General Waste Non-recyclable household waste that goes into designated paid trash bags. These bags are usually white or semi-transparent and must be purchased from convenience stores or supermarkets. The bag color and price vary by district. ### 재활용 (Jae-hwal-yong) — Recyclable Materials Items that can be recycled, including paper, plastic, glass, metal, and styrofoam. These must be cleaned, separated by material type, and placed in clear recycling bags or bins on designated collection days. ### 음식물 쓰레기 (Eum-sik-mul sseu-re-gi) — Food Waste Organic food waste that is collected separately for composting or animal feed. Food waste goes into special small bags (usually beige or green) or designated food waste bins with RFID readers. Hard bones, shells, and fruit pits are NOT food waste in Korea. ### 종량제 봉투 (Jong-ryang-je bong-tu) — Volume-Based Waste Bags Government-mandated paid trash bags that must be used for general waste disposal. The price is built into the bag cost as a waste disposal fee. Using non-designated bags results in fines of ₩100,000 or more. ### 대형 폐기물 (Dae-hyeong pye-gi-mul) — Large/Bulky Waste Large items like furniture, appliances, and mattresses that require special disposal. You must apply online or at your district office, pay a fee, and attach a disposal sticker before placing the item at a designated spot. ### 페트병 (Pe-teu-byeong) — PET Bottles Plastic PET bottles (like water and soda bottles) that must be emptied, rinsed, and have their labels and caps removed before recycling. Some districts now collect clear PET bottles separately from colored ones. ### 폐건전지 (Pye-geon-jeon-ji) — Used Batteries Spent batteries that must be collected separately due to hazardous materials. Most apartment buildings and public buildings have designated battery collection boxes. Never throw batteries in general waste. ### 스티로폼 (Seu-ti-ro-pom) — Styrofoam / EPS Expanded polystyrene packaging and food containers. Must be cleaned of food residue and tape/stickers before recycling. Heavily soiled styrofoam should go in general waste instead. ### 비닐류 (Bi-nil-lyu) — Vinyl / Plastic Film Plastic bags, wrap, and film packaging. These are collected separately from hard plastics. Must be cleaned and bundled together. Heavily contaminated vinyl goes in general waste. ### 유리병 (Yu-ri-byeong) — Glass Bottles Glass containers that are recycled separately. Remove caps and rinse before disposal. Some bottles (like soju and beer bottles) have a deposit system — return them to stores for a refund. ### 폐의류 (Pye-ui-ryu) — Used Clothing Discarded clothing and textiles. Most neighborhoods have designated clothing collection bins. Clothes should be clean and dry. Heavily damaged or wet clothing goes in general waste. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Is Bin Buddy actually free? Yes. Scanning items and getting disposal instructions costs nothing. We offer an optional Pro upgrade for power users who want unlimited history, offline mode, and priority support — but the core app is free forever. ### Does Bin Buddy work outside Seoul? We currently have district-specific rules for all 25 Seoul districts. Other major cities use our general Korea guidelines, which are accurate about 90% of the time. We're actively adding Busan, Incheon, and Daegu next. ### How accurate is the AI at identifying items? Our AI has been trained on 100,000+ images of products commonly found in Korean households and performs well on standard items like food packaging, bottles, and electronics. For unusual items, you can search our database of 10,000+ items or ask the community. ### What languages does Bin Buddy support? English and Korean, with more coming. All instructions are written by native speakers — no awkward machine translations. You can switch languages anytime in the app. ### Can businesses like restaurants or cafes use Bin Buddy? Absolutely. We have restaurant owners, cafe operators, and office managers using Bin Buddy daily. The Pro plan includes features designed for commercial waste management. ### What happens if I put my trash in the wrong bag in Korea? Fines for improper disposal in Korea range from ₩100,000 to ₩1,000,000. Your building management or neighbors may also leave notices on improperly sorted trash. Bin Buddy helps you avoid this by telling you exactly which bag and bin to use. ### Do I need an internet connection to use Bin Buddy? Currently, scanning items requires an internet connection since the AI processes images in the cloud. Offline mode is coming soon. ### Does Bin Buddy collect my personal data or photos? No. Photos are processed for item identification and deleted immediately. No accounts are required, no personal data is collected, and all scan history is stored locally on your device. ### How is Korean recycling different from other countries? Korea has one of the strictest recycling systems in the world. Waste must be sorted into specific categories using designated color-coded bags that vary by district. Each of Korea's 250+ local governments has slightly different rules — unlike most countries where recycling rules are consistent across a region. ### Can I use Bin Buddy if I don't speak any Korean? Yes, that's exactly what Bin Buddy was built for. All instructions are provided in English. You don't need to read Korean labels or understand Korean recycling symbols — just point your camera at the item and the app tells you what to do. ### Is Bin Buddy available on Android? Bin Buddy is currently available on iOS with an Android version in development. ### How is Bin Buddy different from just using Google? Google gives you generic recycling information about Korea. Bin Buddy gives you specific, district-level instructions for the exact item you're holding. It knows that Gangnam rules differ from Mapo rules, and it reads Korean labels so you don't have to. ### Does Bin Buddy work with food waste? Yes. Bin Buddy covers all waste categories including food waste (음식물 쓰레기), general waste, recyclables, and large item disposal. It tells you which bag to use and when to put it out. ## About Bin Buddy was created by Chris DeWeese, an American developer living in Seoul, South Korea. After getting fined twice for improper recycling in his first month in Korea, he built the app he wished existed — point your camera at anything, get instant instructions in English. ### The Mission Korea has one of the most effective recycling systems in the world. Bin Buddy helps foreigners participate correctly — for the environment, for their wallets, and for their neighbors. ## Pages - [Homepage](https://koreatrash.com/) - [What is Bin Buddy?](https://koreatrash.com/what-is-bin-buddy) - [About](https://koreatrash.com/about) - [Korean Recycling Glossary](https://koreatrash.com/glossary) - [What's New](https://koreatrash.com/changelog) - [Support & FAQ](https://koreatrash.com/support) - [Privacy Policy](https://koreatrash.com/privacy) - [Terms of Service](https://koreatrash.com/terms) ### Korean Pages - [홈페이지](https://koreatrash.com/ko) - [빈버디란?](https://koreatrash.com/ko/what-is-bin-buddy) - [빈버디 소개](https://koreatrash.com/ko/about) - [한국 재활용 용어집](https://koreatrash.com/ko/glossary) - [새 소식](https://koreatrash.com/ko/changelog) - [도움말](https://koreatrash.com/ko/support) - [개인정보 처리방침](https://koreatrash.com/ko/privacy) - [이용약관](https://koreatrash.com/ko/terms)