The rules that apply in South Korea
South Korea runs a producer responsibility system and has built public collection centres for retired EV batteries. Packs from subsidised EVs registered before 2021 had to be returned to local authorities, and the rules now allow more private-sector reuse and recycling. Battery makers and recyclers are investing heavily in closed-loop material recovery.
Home to three of the world's largest cell makers, Korea has large production scrap volumes as well as a maturing domestic EV fleet.
What producers and holders must do
Producer responsibility follows whoever placed the battery on the market, but the practical burden often lands on the fleet or workshop holding the retired asset.
- Route retired packs through registered collection centres or licensed recyclers
- Carry out performance checks before any reuse
- Keep transfer and treatment records for ministry reporting
- Follow Basel implementation rules for imports and exports
Local permitting around Ulsan, South Korea
The campus operates under Korean environmental permitting and national rules on waste and resource recycling, including producer responsibility schemes. Transport follows Korean dangerous goods regulations.
The document set
Transport follows national dangerous goods rules, with lithium-ion batteries packaged under UN 3480 / UN 3481. Each consignment carries a dangerous goods declaration, a transporter authorisation, a weighbridge record and a chain-of-custody sheet.
| Document | When | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Dangerous goods declaration | Before pickup | UN 3480 / UN 3481 classification and damage status |
| Chain-of-custody sheet | At handover | Links serials to transporter and destination |
| Weighbridge record | At gate-in | Verified mass for certificates and settlement |
| Recovery certificate | After processing | Quantity, recovery per metal and downstream vendors |
Booking a collection in the Ulsan, South Korea catchment
These site-specific notes help collections run on time.
- Manufacturers can arrange recurring scrap collections.
- Declare chemistry and format at booking.
- Large packs need advance notice.
- Damaged units require special handling.