Why Seoyangho, Jung-gu Mayor, Supports Elderly Paper Collectors in Collecting and Selling Recyclables?

Collected Waste Paper at Designated Locations, Agency Collects and Sells It, Depositing Proceeds into Seniors' Accounts... Operation Guidelines Established for Daily Waste Paper Disposal and Adherence to Designated Locations Even in Small Amounts

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Jung-gu, Seoul (Mayor Seo Yang-ho) has decided to support the collection and sale of waste paper to protect the safety of elderly waste paper collectors and improve the urban landscape.

As the risk of fire accidents caused by piles of waste paper and traffic accidents involving elderly waste paper collectors has recently increased, the district has actively stepped forward to find a solution.

The support for waste paper collection and sale involves a process where an agency collects waste paper gathered by the elderly at designated locations daily, transports it to a recycling sorting center, and sells it.

Before collecting the waste paper, the agency weighs it using a portable scale and records the weight. Based on this weight, the payment from the recycling sorting center is deposited twice a month into the waste paper collector’s account. The recycling sorting center sets an appropriate unit price to purchase the waste paper.

This project supports only those waste paper collectors who agree to participate. In return, collectors must dispose of even small amounts daily to prevent accumulation of waste paper. Waste paper left carelessly in undesignated places will be collected arbitrarily.

In other words, the project aims to guarantee the income of waste paper collectors while promptly collecting abandoned waste paper to keep alleyways clean and tidy.

On the 14th at 3 p.m., the district held an explanatory meeting for elderly waste paper collectors at the Daily Life Culture Support Center in the Sindang Intersection public parking lot to explain the purpose of the project and related requests.

The recycling sorting center and the waste paper collection and transportation agency also attended, expressing their agreement with the project’s purpose and signing a business agreement to participate in changing the alleyway landscape of Jung-gu.

At the meeting, Mayor Seo Yang-ho said, "We have been considering solutions between the elderly who precariously pull their handcarts and complaints caused by waste paper accumulation. We needed an approach that is realistic and sustainable, not just a one-time measure," explaining the purpose of the project.

The district plans to start the project on the 20th and will continuously monitor its effectiveness and issues, gradually improving any necessary aspects.

Additionally, to prevent the increase of new waste paper collectors, the district will support only those confirmed through regular surveys and will create separate operational guidelines to strictly crack down on waste paper piles outside designated locations.

Furthermore, resource managers will be appointed in areas vulnerable to illegal dumping to carry out activities preventing the accumulation of recyclables in residential neighborhoods.

Mayor Seo Yang-ho stated, "The most important thing is the health and safety of the elderly. I will devote myself to community administration so that not only the elderly but all residents can be happy."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.