Preventing Garbage Crisis... Yongsan-gu Aims to Reduce 4,000 Tons Compared to Last Year

Decision to Reduce Metropolitan Landfill Inflow by 4,271 Tons Compared to Previous Year (10,880 Tons)

Unauthorized Dumping Prohibited Logo Projector

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Last year, the amount of household waste generated in Yongsan-gu was 32,680 tons. Of this, 67% (21,800 tons) was sent to the Mapo Resource Recovery Facility, and 33% (10,880 tons) was sent to the Sudokwon Landfill Site.

The problem is that according to the Sudokwon Landfill Site’s “total input volume system,” the district’s allocation for 2020 is only 6,609 tons. If this limit is exceeded, the landfill fee could double or input could be completely prohibited.

Yongsan-gu (Mayor Seongjang Hyun) plans to reduce the amount of household waste sent to the Sudokwon Landfill Site this year by 40% (4,271 tons) compared to last year (10,880 tons).

This is to prevent a “waste crisis” caused by the total input volume system at the Sudokwon Landfill Site.

The district will first conduct a “Pay-As-You-Throw Bag Opening Experience” during the monthly Clean Day large-scale cleaning events in each neighborhood, allowing residents to experience the actual state of waste disposal themselves. This is to raise awareness among residents about the necessity of separate waste disposal.

In April, the district plans to send a letter from the mayor and newsletters encouraging waste reduction to residential areas, commercial districts, restaurants, and related organizations within the region.

This is because the project cannot proceed without residents’ cooperation.

Enforcement against mixed waste disposal and illegal dumping will also be strengthened. Waste collection companies in the area, such as Daeseo Environment and Samsung Environment, will attach “collection refusal” notices to waste violating separate disposal rules. Then, inspection teams from the district office and local community centers will conduct on-site investigations and impose fines on the waste disposers.

The district has increased the number of dedicated illegal dumping personnel from 4 to 6.

The “Erasing One Habitual Illegal Dumping Site at a Time” project, introduced last year, will continue. For 300 habitual illegal dumping sites (including 60 special management zones), the district will use all methods such as large-scale cleaning, installation of nets, (smart) warning signs, and logo projectors (LED logo lights) to manage and supervise these areas.

In particular, this year the district will increase the number of smart illegal dumping warning signs from 118 to 157, adding 39 units. These smart warning signs are equipped with high-definition closed-circuit TVs (CCTV) capable of day and night recording and speakers that output voice announcements, proving highly effective in preventing illegal dumping.

Five additional illegal dumping prohibition logo projectors will also be installed this year.

Starting in May, a “Thursday Disposal System for Waste Vinyl and PET Bottles” will be piloted targeting single-family homes and commercial areas. This is to utilize high-quality waste vinyl and colorless (transparent) PET bottles from beverages and water as high-quality recycled raw materials.

The district recently installed dedicated collection bins for colorless PET bottles at 53 recycling stations (recycling separation bins in single-family home areas) within the region.

Additionally, the district will carry out specialized projects such as Yongsan Clean Day large-scale cleaning events, illegal dumping prevention poster contests, recycling of sewing fabric scraps, coffee grounds recycling (composting), and operation of green markets.

Mayor Seongjang Hyun stated, “Simply separating mixed recyclables and food waste in pay-as-you-throw bags can reduce waste by more than 50%. When COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, regulations on single-use items will be strengthened again.”

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