Minister Kim Seong-hwan of the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment said on the 30th that, regarding concerns over the supply of volume-based (trash) bags, "Even if the worst happens, we have prepared thorough measures, including allowing the use of regular bags."
Since the Middle East crisis, disruptions have occurred in the supply of naphtha used to make polyethylene (PE), the raw material for trash bags. As some people began stockpiling volume-based bags, the Minister of Climate, Energy and Environment moved to calm the situation.
Earlier, on the 25th, the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment also said that "local governments nationwide hold an average of three months' worth of volume-based bags." However, as three months is not very long and concerns have grown that supply will become even tighter with the prolonged Middle East crisis, stockpiling of volume-based bags continues to appear.
The Minister said in a post on Facebook that day, "After carefully checking local governments and production plants nationwide, we found that more than half of local governments have already secured more than six months' worth of (volume-based bags), and there is ample capacity to use recycled raw materials, so there will be no problem supplying them for more than a year."
The Minister also said, "There will be no price increase." The Minister added, "Bag eligibility is set by local government ordinance, so factories cannot raise it at will." The Minister continued, "Even if the worst happens, we have prepared thorough measures such as allowing the use of regular bags, so there will never be a situation where you have to pile up trash at home."