Seoul experiences bin bag panic amid supply fears

Seoul residents have been stockpiling plastic bin bags, with sales surging five-fold, driven by fears of petroleum supply disruptions.

Tue Mar 31 2026

Seoul gripped by bin bag panic

Last week, South Koreans in Seoul were seen stripping shop shelves of plastic bin bags, rather than food or medicine. The city's mandatory 'pay-as-you-throw' bags, made from a petroleum derivative, saw nearly 2.7 million units sold daily, almost five times the normal volume. Residents scrambled to stockpile what they feared might soon become scarce.

Oil supply concerns impact daily essentials

The surge in sales is attributed to mounting concerns over oil supplies under strain. City by-laws mandate that these pre-paid bags, made from naphtha, a petroleum derivative, must be used for household waste. The agreed-upon budget for a potential Iran war crisis has exacerbated fears of petroleum scarcity, directly impacting this daily essential.

*Source: SCMP (2026-03-31)*

Tags: #bin bags #stockpiling #Seoul #oil supply #naphtha