쓰레기를 분리하다

The phrase is composed of '쓰레기' (sseuregi, meaning 'garbage' or 'trash'), the object particle '를' (reul), and '분리하다' (bunrihada, meaning 'to separate' or 'to divide'). '분리하다' itself is derived from '분리' (bunri, meaning 'separation' or 'division') and the verb suffix '하다' (hada, meaning 'to do'). The practice of '쓰레기를 분리하다' became widespread in South Korea with the implementation of waste management policies aimed at increasing recycling rates and reducing landfill waste, particularly from the 1990s onwards. The concept of waste separation for recycling has been in development globally for over a century, with formal systems gaining traction in various countries during the latter half of the 20th century. In Korea, the specific terminology and practice became standardized as part of national environmental efforts.