Yeongdeungpo-gu Opens Path for Ice Pack Recycling

Completion of Installation of 17 Ice Pack Collection Boxes in 'Open Sharing Box'... Ice Packs Reborn through Cleaning and Disinfection at Ice Pack Sharing Workshop... Practicing Resource Circulation by Free Distribution at Traditional Markets

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Yeongdeungpo-gu (Mayor Cha Hyun-il) has embarked on an 'Ice Pack Recycling Project' utilizing the open sharing boxes installed last year to promote environmental protection and the spread of a culture of sharing.

Recently, with the rapid increase in the purchase of fresh food through the internet, the use of ice packs has also exploded. However, most are not reused and are either thrown away in volume-based waste bags or disposed of by pouring the contents into toilets or sinks, causing water pollution.

In response, the district reviewed the ice pack collection system and reuse plans with related local organizations, including the Yeongdeungpo Regional Self-Support Center, and in April created dedicated ice pack collection boxes within the 'Open Sharing Boxes,' devising a plan to expand installation to all neighborhoods in Yeongdeungpo-gu.

The 'Open Sharing Box' is Yeongdeungpo's representative sharing economy platform where local residents bring unused items to donate in the sharing box, and other residents who need those items can freely take them.

The district utilizes these Open Sharing Boxes as hubs for promoting the ice pack reuse project.

By the end of May, installation of sharing boxes was completed in 17 neighborhoods, excluding Singil 4-dong where a new office building is under construction. As of the end of August, a total of about 6,000 ice packs have been collected. The collected ice packs are distributed free of charge to traditional markets and shops within Yeongdeungpo.

Additionally, the district plans to establish an 'Ice Pack Sharing Workshop' within the Yeongdeungpo Resource Circulation Center to operate the collection, washing, sterilization, packaging, and delivery of ice packs more systematically, and continues to actively recruit and discover demand sources for ice packs.

In particular, starting in the second half of this year, ice packs will be actively used in welfare projects such as the lunchbox delivery service for children at risk of food insecurity run by the 'Regional Self-Support Center,' expecting to spread a warm culture of sharing.

Cha Hyun-il, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo-gu, stated, "Ice pack recycling is expected to help reduce waste and protect the environment, as well as support various welfare projects," and added, "We ask for the active interest and cooperation of residents so that the ice pack recycling project can be further activated."

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