Gwangju City to Operate Intensive Collection Period for Used Batteries Starting from the 24th

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] Gwangju Metropolitan City announced on the 21st that it will operate a focused collection period for used batteries from the 24th of this month to the 4th of next month to encourage citizens' voluntary resource circulation practices and recycle valuable metal resources.

Used batteries contain heavy metals such as mercury and cadmium, which, if not separated and disposed of properly but thrown away as household waste and landfilled, can cause various environmental pollution and release harmful substances to the human body.

Conversely, if separated and disposed of properly, valuable metal resources can be recovered.

During this focused collection period for used batteries, the usual used battery-new battery exchange program will be expanded, allowing residents to exchange one set for every 10 used batteries turned in.

Residents wishing to exchange can visit their nearest community service center to exchange for new batteries.

Additionally, to promote proper separation and disposal of used batteries, in the second half of the year, correct separation and disposal education will be conducted targeting elementary, middle, and high schools in the area, and schools participating in separation and disposal will be accepted to increase the collection rate of used batteries.

Gwangju City has continuously promoted proper separation and disposal of used batteries and conducted exchange programs, collecting 76 tons in 2019, and last year collected 103 tons, an increase of 35.5% compared to the previous year.

Park Jae-woo, head of the city's Resource Circulation Division, said, “Through the focused collection period for used batteries, we can increase the collection rate of used batteries, promote resource recycling, and prevent environmental pollution,” and added, “We ask for citizens' active interest and participation in the proper separation and disposal of used batteries.”

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