As concerns grow over a shortage of pay-as-you-throw trash bags amid the prolonged Middle East crisis, local governments are rushing to disclose their stock levels. They say there are sufficient reserves and no need for panic buying, but the wide regional gaps in inventory are drawing criticism for stoking public anxiety instead.
According to South Chungcheong Province on the 26th, Seocheon County has 570 days' worth of pay-as-you-throw bag inventory. Asan City has also secured 560 days' worth, holding enough for 18 to 19 months. The city of Busan said that a full survey of its 16 districts and counties found inventories ranging from as little as 6 months to as much as 16 months.
Local governments moved to disclose inventories to ease jitters after supply of naphtha became uncertain due to recent instability in the Middle East.
Pay-as-you-throw bags are made of polyethylene such as "linear low-density polyethylene" (LLDPE) or "high-density polyethylene" (HDPE), and this feedstock comes from naphtha. Domestic refiners also produce it, but about 45% is imported.
The problem is that the Strait of Hormuz, one of the main import routes, has been shut down due to the fallout from the Middle East crisis, heightening concerns about supply disruptions. The government on the 24th designated pay-as-you-throw bags as one of the items at risk from Middle East–origin supply chain shocks.
Since then, posts have appeared on online communities saying, "I went to buy pay-as-you-throw bags but made a wasted trip," and "The store says they don't know when they'll come in." In fact, some retailers are limiting purchase quantities per person or posting out-of-stock notices.
As the situation spread, local governments moved to tamp it down, saying they have supplies for "several months or more." However, the large differences in stock levels by region are being flagged as a problem in their own right.
According to the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, the average inventory of pay-as-you-throw bags across 228 basic local governments nationwide is about 3 months. Some local governments reportedly have little more than a month's supply.
Local governments with relatively low inventories are in a bind. An official at one local government said, "In normal times, 1 to 2 months' worth is enough, but compared to other regions, it can look insufficient," and noted, "We worry it might unnecessarily fuel anxiety."
The government again moved to calm the situation. It stressed that pay-as-you-throw bags are often stored as pre-print "rolls," allowing flexible reallocation of supplies between regions. If stock from areas with breathing room is redirected to those lacking, there will be no problem with supply. The government said, "For now, there is no disruption in the supply of pay-as-you-throw bags."