Starting in 2026, the 'Extended Producer Responsibility System (EPR)' will expand its coverage from 50 types of existing large home appliances to include all electric and electronic products, including wireless earbuds and portable fans.

The Ministry of Environment noted on the 14th that it approved a revision of the enforcement ordinance of the 'Act on Resource Circulation of Electric and Electronic Products and Automobiles' at the cabinet meeting.

EPR is a system that imposes obligations on manufacturers, importers, and sellers for the collection and recycling of products to promote recycling. Medical devices with a risk of infection and military supplies requiring confidentiality are excluded from EPR.

With the implementation of this revised enforcement ordinance, new obligated businesses will need to pay a mutual aid fund contribution of 15.4 billion won necessary for fulfilling additional recycling obligations. However, they will be exempt from the approximately 20.5 billion won waste disposal fee they were previously paying, resulting in an expected annual burden reduction of around 5.1 billion won.

The Ministry of Environment estimated that through additional recycling of wireless earbuds, portable fans, and power banks, approximately 76,000 tons of resources like iron and aluminum would be recovered annually, generating more than 200 billion won in environmental and economic benefits.

At the same cabinet meeting, the revised enforcement ordinances of the 'Water Supply Act' and the 'Act on Special Measures for Air Quality Improvement in Air Quality Management Areas' were also approved and will take effect on the 23rd of this month.

The revised enforcement ordinance of the 'Water Supply Act' stipulates matters necessary for the integration promotion of water supply projects, including the authority to establish a unified plan for water supply projects and what must be included in that plan. It is expected that the legal basis for integration among local governments will be established, allowing for connections between water sources and water facilities, thereby facilitating management rationalization.

The revised enforcement ordinance of the 'Act on Special Measures for Air Quality Improvement in Air Quality Management Areas' stipulates that vehicles considered low-emission will be defined and allows for fines of 100,000 won per day for operating cars that are not permitted to operate in low-emission zones.