Yangcheon-gu Supports Elderly Paper Collectors with Winter Jackets

Providing winter jackets to 197 elderly waste collectors in December... Supporting safe activities during the winter season

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Yangcheon-gu (Mayor Kim Soo-young) will provide winter jackets necessary for winter activities to elderly people engaged in waste paper collection activities in the area during December.

This is to help them continue safe activities even during the winter season.

Although the severe cold wave began in December, elderly people collecting waste paper cannot stop their activities as they rely on it for their livelihood. This year, due to the economic downturn caused by COVID-19, the prices of recyclable materials have plummeted, making their livelihood even more precarious. The prices at junkyards have dropped significantly, and the amount of recyclables offered by stores has also greatly decreased due to the recession.

The district established the ordinance on supporting recyclable resource collectors in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, in September last year to provide a legal basis for support.

According to the ordinance, support is provided to those who are registered recyclable collectors in the area and meet one of the following criteria: ▲ persons aged 65 or older among the low-income class under the National Basic Livelihood Security Act ▲ single-person households aged 50 or older according to the ordinance on prevention and support of solitary deaths among middle-aged single-person households in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul ▲ or those deemed in need of support based on the survey results.

Before providing support, the district conducted a survey of 23 junkyards in the area and decided to distribute winter gear to 197 eligible recipients based on the results.

The winter gear will be distributed through the local community service centers.

According to the survey, there are a total of 197 people engaged in waste paper collection activities in the area. Among them, 94.9% are elderly aged 65 or older, 38% are recipients of basic livelihood security or low-income class, and 74.6% are low-income households below the median income, indicating that collection activities are prominent among low-income elderly people.

Kim Soo-young, Mayor of Yangcheon-gu, said, “During these difficult times with COVID-19 and the severe cold wave, elderly people’s collection activities must be very challenging. I hope this will help them spend this winter warmly, even if just a little.”

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