Assemblyman Yudongsoo: "We Must Hurry to Find a Solution to the Metropolitan Area Garbage Crisis"

This Year’s Recycling Waste Generation Increased by 11.2% Compared to Last Year
Urging Preparation of Post-2025 Measures for Sudokwon Landfill Site Closure

Yoo Dong-su, Member of the Democratic Party of Korea

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] Yoo Dongsu, a member of the National Assembly's Political Affairs Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea (Incheon Gyeyang-gap), has called for measures to resolve the imminent metropolitan area 'garbage crisis.'

According to the national audit data submitted by Yoo's office on the 8th, the amount of recyclable waste generated in the first half of this year increased by 11.2% compared to the same period last year (plastic increased by 15.6%). The prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, including increased delivery demand, is analyzed as the main cause.

For the past 30 years, all garbage in the metropolitan area has been processed at the metropolitan landfill site in Seo-gu, Incheon. As a result, residents of the western and northern parts of Incheon have suffered severe economic and environmental hardships, including large-scale foul odors and damage to fishermen caused by leachate due to the proliferation of various waste disposal companies around the landfill site.

Looking at the landfill input ratio for the metropolitan landfill site last year, Seoul accounted for the largest share at 42%, followed by Gyeonggi Province at 37%, and Incheon at 21%.

In response, the Ministry of Environment announced last month a plan to amend related laws (Resource Circulation Policy Transformation Plan) that formalizes the principle of waste processing at the place of generation in cities and provinces and prohibits direct landfill of household waste from 2030.

Incheon City is also planning to terminate the operation of the metropolitan landfill site after its use ends in 2025 and is promoting the creation of its own landfill site to handle only Incheon's waste.

However, Seoul and Gyeonggi Province are showing a passive stance toward preparing their own landfill sites, insisting on a public contest for a 'joint alternative landfill site.' Even the Ministry of Environment, the competent authority, is not actively playing a mediating role, raising concerns that the metropolitan area's garbage crisis is becoming a reality.

Assemblyman Yoo Dongsu emphasized, "Considering the time required for administrative procedures such as the termination of the metropolitan landfill site by Incheon City and changes in urban planning, the absolute time to secure its own landfill and incineration facilities is tight," adding, "As the garbage crisis approaches faster due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, the government must promptly come up with measures to ensure the smooth implementation of the 'Resource Circulation Policy Transformation Plan.'"

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