Min Geum-nan taps her RFID waste bin in Seoul and sees her food waste measured at 0.5kg. This high-tech system is part of South Korea's impressive move to recycle 96.8% of its 4.81 million tonnes of food waste in 2023. The country started a pay-as-you-throw scheme in 1995 after landfills filled up in the 1990s. Residents pay 130 won per kilo and separate food waste carefully to avoid extra costs. The shift has been effective: since 2013, food waste in Seoul dropped 23.9%, with some apartment blocks cutting waste by over 50%. The waste is processed in underground plants in Gangdong, where it is turned into chicken feed, compost, and biogas. Seoul uses 27,289 RFID bins covering over 81% of apartment residents. Nationally, 150,738 such units serve millions of apartments. Residents say the system is convenient and encourages better food habits, like portion control. Challenges remain, including funding cuts since 2014 and maintenance costs. Still, Seoul aims to reduce food waste by another 20% by 2030 and expand RFID bin use to 90% of apartments. A new rewards program will launch in 2026 to further motivate residents. South Korea's food waste success combines laws, technology, and community effort. Min sums it up simply: “Separating food from other rubbish is just obvious. It would be strange not to.”