Yongsan-gu Launches All-Out Effort to Reduce Household Waste by 5%

Promotion of policy projects such as Household Waste Reduction Contest and Recycling Station Operation... Campaign to Avoid Single-Use Products When COVID-19 Situation Improves

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] The use of disposable products has surged rapidly due to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and the spread of delivery and courier culture.

By 2024, the metropolitan landfill site is expected to reach capacity. More proactive reduction efforts from both public and private sectors are necessary.

Yongsan-gu (District Mayor Seongjang Hyun) is rolling up its sleeves to reduce household waste.

The goal is to reduce the average intake from 2017 to 2019 (31,951 tons) by 5%.

Key measures include ▲ neighborhood waste reduction competitions ▲ eliminating habitual illegal dumping sites one by one ▲ operating recycling stations in residential areas ▲ campaigns to avoid using disposable products ▲ recycling coffee grounds (composting), among others.

The neighborhood competition will be held from this month until November, reflected in the evaluation of neighborhood cleaning administration, ranking 16 neighborhoods and awarding outstanding community centers.

Evaluation criteria include separated waste disposal inspection results, illegal dumping crackdown results, and promotional achievements.

The elimination of habitual illegal dumping sites will be conducted simultaneously at 61 backstreets within the district. Using nets, flower beds, large banners, and smart warning boards, the environment of habitual illegal dumping areas will be changed, and managers will be appointed if necessary. Last year, 29 sites were improved.

As of April, 74 recycling stations are operating in residential areas. By making recycling separation a daily habit in single-family, multi-family, and multiplex housing areas, a pleasant living environment is created and awareness of resource circulation is improved.

When the COVID-19 situation improves, campaigns to avoid using disposable products will also be launched. Detailed tasks include ‘Reducing disposable product use in religious facilities (145 locations)’ and ‘Reducing plastic bag use in traditional markets.’ These require cooperation from private sectors such as merchant associations.

Public sectors including the district office, neighborhood community centers, and facility management corporations will also lead by practicing tasks such as ‘Prohibiting disposable product use in offices’ and ‘Banning plastic umbrella covers.’

The coffee grounds recycling project is being conducted with about 20 coffee specialty shops in the area. Composting coffee grounds reduces waste and saves disposal costs. Last year’s reduction achievement reached 36 tons.

Additionally, the district plans to take the lead in waste reduction through various methods such as on-site waste sorting experiences, posting notices refusing mixed waste collection, managing mandatory recycling separation workplaces, recycling fabric scraps, and operating green markets.

Seongjang Hyun, Mayor of Yongsan-gu, said, “According to the Seoul City household waste intake management system, incentives will be given if the goal is achieved, and penalties if not. We look forward to the active participation of residents.”

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