Sudogwon Landfill Closure Committee Urges Ministry of Environment to Halt 'Landfill Research Project'

Ministry of Environment Awards Service Contract to Landfill Corporation via Private Contract
Task Force Claims "Trick to Extend Sudogwon Landfill"

Sudokwon Landfill Site Phase 2 [Photo by Sudokwon Landfill Site Management Corporation]

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[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] Regarding the Ministry of Environment's commissioning of a research project to explore eco-friendly landfill management plans, residents and civic groups in the Incheon area have demanded the suspension of the project, claiming it is a procedure to extend the use of the current Sudogwon Landfill.

The Sudogwon Landfill Termination Residents' Countermeasure Committee, composed of 12 organizations, announced on the 24th that they recently sent a letter to the Minister of Environment demanding the suspension of the "Research Project on Eco-friendly Landfill Management Plans for Stable Waste Disposal." They warned that if the Ministry of Environment proceeds with the project, they will launch strong actions for the resignation of the minister and the termination of the Sudogwon Landfill's use.

Last month, the Ministry of Environment signed a private contract with the Sudogwon Landfill Management Corporation for the research project. The Ministry stated that the project "deals with general eco-friendly landfill creation plans and is not directly related to the Sudogwon Landfill." It is simply exploring eco-friendly landfill management plans for waste generated in the Sudogwon area.

However, the countermeasure committee expressed distrust in the Ministry's explanation.

The committee argued, "While the Ministry of Environment is not taking responsibility as a party to create an alternative landfill for Sudogwon through the four-party consultation, pushing forward with this research project can only be understood as an intention to continue using the current Sudogwon Landfill beyond 2025." They added, "Signing a private contract with the Landfill Corporation for the project further deepens suspicions about extending landfill use."

They also pointed out, "The inclusion of 'Diagnosis and Analysis of the Current Status of the Sudogwon Landfill' in the research content clearly reveals the Ministry's intention to convert the current landfill into an eco-friendly one and continue its use instead of terminating it."

The committee emphasized, "The Ministry of Environment should first take responsibility in the process of creating an alternative landfill or promise to end the use of the landfill by 2025 before proceeding with the research project."

In June 2015, the Ministry of Environment and the three Sudogwon metropolitan cities and provinces (the four-party consultative body) agreed to transfer the land ownership of the current Sudogwon Landfill in Baekseok-dong, Seo-gu, Incheon, and the jurisdiction of the Landfill Corporation to Incheon City, in exchange for extending the landfill usage period, originally set to end in late 2016, until the completion of landfill in Section 3-1 (1.03 million square meters), approximately 10 years later.

They also agreed to secure an alternative landfill site during this period, and if not possible, to additionally use 15% of the remaining site (Section 3-2, 1.06 million square meters).

However, as the creation of an alternative landfill for joint use by the three Sudogwon cities and provinces faced difficulties, Incheon City criticized the Ministry of Environment for not actively participating and is simultaneously pursuing the creation of its own landfill.

Incheon City has clearly stated its position to end the use of the current Sudogwon Landfill in Seo-gu by 2025 and initiated a research project last September to create its own landfill that can only accept Incheon waste.

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