Eunpyeong Metropolitan Resource Circulation Center Construction Accelerates

Scheduled to Begin Construction in March 2021... Transparent Disclosure of Design Details for Eunpyeong Metropolitan Resource Circulation Center Construction Project

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Eunpyeong-gu (Mayor Kim Mi-kyung) is promoting the construction project of the Eunpyeong Metropolitan Resource Circulation Center, which will install a large-scale recycling sorting facility with minimal environmental impact completely underground near Jinkwan-dong 76-40, close to Jichuk Vehicle Depot, and develop sports facilities such as soccer fields and jokgu courts on the surface.

The Eunpyeong Metropolitan Resource Circulation Center construction project, which considers both resource circulation and residents' daily lives, passed the Ministry of the Interior and Safety’s central investment review assessing the necessity and feasibility of the project on December 6 last year. Since then, the project has accelerated with contracts signed for basic and detailed design services and construction management services in March and May.

Currently, through kickoff meetings and progress meetings, the design is being carried out to fully address residents' concerns regarding environmental and safety issues. The project aims to commence construction in March 2021 and complete it by September 2023.

The design details of the Eunpyeong Metropolitan Resource Circulation Center construction project are transparently disclosed to residents once a month through the 'Learn About Eunpyeong Metropolitan Resource Circulation Center' section on the Eunpyeong-gu Office website’s resident participation bulletin board. Any resident interested in the design can check the ongoing project details in a timely manner and submit opinions at any time.

Considering the difficulty of face-to-face activities due to COVID-19, a proactive online opinion submission environment has been established, allowing diverse resident opinions to be collected and reflected, which is a noteworthy resident participation method in the post-COVID era.

In particular, not only are opinions collected, but they are also practically reflected after review by expert groups in architecture, civil engineering, mechanical, and electrical fields. The 'reflection of residents’ opinions' status is posted again, ensuring transparent and fair resident participation from design to completion.

Eunpyeong-gu focuses on communication and accurate information delivery based on facts regarding facility construction, transparently and fairly disclosing feasibility study and basic plan reports, results from the Korea Institute of Local Administration feasibility study, Ministry of the Interior and Safety’s central investment review results, and design details on the Learn About Eunpyeong Metropolitan Resource Circulation Center website.

Additionally, a resident participation advisory group governance system has been established, involving local residents and experts simultaneously to build consensus and strengthen momentum for the construction project.

Thanks to these communication efforts, many residents have understood the necessity of the Eunpyeong Metropolitan Resource Circulation Center construction project, and many environmental concerns have been alleviated.

However, some residents oppose the facility construction, citing risks of large fires and pollution of natural environments such as Bukhansan Mountain and Changneungcheon Stream. Yet, those who know even a little about recycling sorting facilities or visit the construction site can see that these claims are mostly unilateral and not based on facts.

First, opposing residents argue that fires could occur due to pressure when household waste is transferred, citing the 'Garbage Mountain in Uiseong' as an example. However, that case involved tens of thousands of tons of waste left unattended on hillsides due to insufficient waste treatment facilities, causing fires (including spontaneous combustion). This actually underscores the need for public recycling sorting facilities like the Eunpyeong Metropolitan Resource Circulation Center.

Moreover, recycling sorting facilities do not involve incineration (combustion) processes, so concerns about fires and safety accidents are lower compared to other facilities, and they are hardly considered a cause of air pollution such as fine dust.

Also, these facilities do not pollute natural environments like Bukhansan Mountain or Changneungcheon Stream; rather, they sort and recycle household recyclables such as plastics, cans, and paper, conserving resources and protecting the environment.

Residents worry that leachate generated during sorting contaminates soil and streams, but recycling sorting facilities produce very little leachate, and the small amount generated is discharged through public sewage pipes in compliance with discharge standards, so there is no risk of inflow into streams or soil contamination.

Thus, although the Eunpyeong Metropolitan Resource Circulation Center is a facility with minimal environmental impact, Eunpyeong-gu is conducting the project transparently and safely with resident participation to fully address residents’ concerns.

Kim Mi-kyung, Mayor of Eunpyeong-gu, stated, “Since the Eunpyeong Metropolitan Resource Circulation Center will be built completely underground, it will not be exposed on the surface. Instead, sports facilities and community centers for residents’ convenience will be constructed above ground. Additionally, the Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to build an international-standard ice rink and inline roller skating rink similar to the Mokdong Ice Rink on nearby land, aiming to develop Eunpyeong-gu into a representative sports town.”

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