"Just One Person Won't Matter" Urban Street Trees and Utility Poles Turned into Trash Dumps [Reporter Han Goes]

Garbage Disposal on Roadside Instead of In Front of Some Storefronts
Street Trees and Utility Poles Suffering from Various Trash and Filth... Bad Odors and Traffic Obstruction
Some Citizens Littering Cigarette Butts on Trash Piles

Garbage disposal situation in front of a busy commercial area in Seoul. According to related regulations, the designated garbage disposal location is in front of the store, but most garbage was placed by roadside trees or utility poles. Photo by Seunggon Han hsg@asiae.co.kr

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] Trash is being dumped on street trees and utility poles in commercial districts, causing not only obstruction to pedestrians but also damaging the urban landscape, raising concerns. According to trash disposal regulations, garbage should be placed in front of the store entrance, but in reality, this rule is often not followed. Some people also throw cigarette butts and other waste onto the carelessly dumped trash bags, creating additional problems.

Over the past ten days, the reporter observed trash disposal practices mainly in some busy areas of Seoul and found that most businesses, including restaurants, were placing their trash not in front of their own store doors but on street trees or utility poles on the sidewalks.

Most of the trash is contained in volume-based waste bags, so there is no environmental pollution issue, but because of the presence of trash bags, some passersby indiscriminately throw cigarette butts, tissues, and other waste, making the scene resemble a garbage dump.

Garbage disposal situation in front of a busy commercial area in Seoul. According to related regulations, the designated garbage disposal location is in front of the store. Since garbage bags are placed there, some citizens have also thrown cigarette butts and other trash at the site. Photo by Han Seung-gon hsg@asiae.co.kr

A self-employed man in his 40s, Mr. A, who runs a restaurant, was dumping trash on a tree located on the road in front of his store. He said, "I know the rule is to put trash out in front of the door, but the distance from my store entrance to that street tree is not far," adding, "Since I put the trash in volume-based waste bags, it shouldn't be a problem." He further explained, "The reason I put it by the tree is so that the trash bags can lean against it and so the collectors can easily take them."

However, according to trash disposal regulations, the designated disposal location is in front of the store, within the property boundary of the building, or beside the building. Areas where disposal is prohibited include roadsides. If trash is placed on the roadside or alleyway instead of in front of the store, as in Mr. A’s case, a fine ranging from 100,000 KRW (first offense) to 300,000 KRW (third offense) will be imposed.

Another issue is that when these carelessly dumped trash bags accumulate, some citizens illegally dump additional waste there, raising serious environmental pollution concerns. Cigarette butts and other filth can accumulate and damage the trees.

One store did not even put waste or trash in the volume-based waste bags. Photo by Seunggon Han hsg@asiae.co.kr

In front of one store, a large trash bag was discarded by a utility pole. Bugs were swarming over it. On top of the trash pile, disposable cups, cigarette butts, and beverage cans discarded by pedestrians were piled up.

Citizens expressed their discomfort. Mr. B, a man in his 30s who works in an office and was met in front of a restaurant, said, "Because there are so many trash bags gathered, people seem to think it's okay to throw trash there freely," adding, "It doesn’t look good and the smell is strong."

Another office worker in his 40s, Mr. C, said, "Summer is coming soon, and the weather will be humid and hot, so the odor will probably get worse," adding, "It’s embarrassing for sanitation workers and children."

A 'Garbage Disposal Notice' hung on a street tree. It contains the principle that all garbage should be placed in front of the door. Photo by Seunggon Han hsg@asiae.co.kr

The situation in front of stores in other busy areas was similar. Trash bags were piled up by street trees or utility poles next to the sidewalks, with various large and small pieces of trash indiscriminately thrown on top. Even while the reporter was covering the scene, some citizens threw trash onto the pile and walked away.

Because there is so much trash dumped in front of street trees, one tree had a "Trash Disposal Notice" sign attached. According to the notice, dumping trash on street trees results in a fine of 1,000,000 KRW.

A passerby in his 50s said, "I saw so many trash bags dumped on trees that I didn’t realize it was a problem," adding, "I hope everyone follows the rules properly from now on so the streets can be clean."

An official from a district office’s cleaning administration department stated that the situation could be problematic and that prompt measures would be taken. The official explained, "According to regulations, trash should be placed in front of the store," adding, "Some restaurants and stores may have difficulty following this rule." He emphasized, "We will work to improve the situation regarding trash disposal on street trees and utility poles."

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