The objections of residents over the construction and operation of waste incineration facilities has strongly influenced waste management practices in Seoul, Korea. It was found that people's impressions depended on their perception of associated risks as well as the information provided by the government. As risk perceptions differ depending on personal experience and sources of information, in this paper the author's investigate resident's perceptions of risk regarding local waste incineration facilities in Seoul and then those in Nagoya, Japan, which has a longer history of waste treatment using incineration.