Yeongdeungpo-gu Leads Resource Circulation with Ice Pack Recycling Agreement

Korea Environment Corporation and Small Enterprise and Market Service Sign Agreement on Proper Ice Pack Disposal and Recycling Activation... District Oversees Ice Pack Collection, Transport, and Cleaning... Partner Organizations to Discover Demand and Distribute... Plan to Expand 50 Dedicated Ice Pack Collection Bins in Apartment Complexes by July to Lead Resource Circulation

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Yeongdeungpo-gu (Mayor Chae Hyun-il) announced that it will sign an agreement with the Korea Environment Corporation and the Small Enterprise and Market Service to promote the "Proper Disposal and Recycling Activation of Ice Packs" in preparation for the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and the expected surge in demand for fresh food delivery during the summer.

Generally, most ice packs used once are not reused but are thrown away in volume-based waste bags, incinerated, landfilled, or disposed of by pouring their contents into toilets or sinks, causing serious environmental pollution.

Furthermore, as the purchase of fresh products through the internet increases, the use of ice packs is also rapidly rising, highlighting the growing importance of proper disposal and recycling methods for ice packs.

Accordingly, the district has entered into a business agreement with the Korea Environment Corporation's Metropolitan Western Environment Headquarters and the Small Enterprise and Market Service's Seoul-Gangwon Regional Headquarters to establish a culture of plastic-free expansion based on mutual trust and reciprocity, focusing on the "Proper Disposal and Reuse Activation of Ice Packs."

The signing ceremony took place on May 31 at 1:30 PM in the basement level 1 of the Yeongdeungpo-gu Office Annex, Neulpureum School Library, with eight officials from Yeongdeungpo-gu Office and the corporations in attendance.

Through this agreement, Yeongdeungpo-gu will ▲ oversee the collection, transportation, and washing of ice packs ▲ manage the status of collection and washing performance ▲ and work on discovering demand sources and promoting through community service centers.

Additionally, the district will be responsible for registering the supply capacity of ice packs using the Ministry of the Interior and Safety’s collaborative matching platform, Gwanghwamun 1st Street "Collaboration Space," which allows real-time monitoring of supply and demand status.

The Korea Environment Corporation will handle discovering demand sources, building community networks, sharing government policies on ice packs, and managing project operations, while the Small Enterprise and Market Service will conduct promotional activities for ice pack reuse targeting traditional markets.

The district currently operates ice pack collection boxes within the open sharing boxes in each neighborhood, collecting, washing, repackaging, and distributing ice packs discarded by residents to traditional markets, shops, welfare centers, and other local facilities, leading resource circulation efforts.

Moreover, efforts will be made to expand the volume of ice pack collection.

As voices requesting the installation of dedicated ice pack collection boxes in apartment complexes within the district grow louder, a demand survey has been conducted to recruit about 50 apartment complexes, with installation planned to be completed by July.

Through this agreement, the district expects to realize an eco-friendly resource circulation economy, reduce the burden on ice pack-using companies, cut incineration and landfill costs, and generate socio-economic benefits including environmental protection.

Chae Hyun-il, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo-gu, stated, "Reusing ice packs creates a triple effect of resource circulation, environmental pollution prevention, and support for small business owners. Starting with today's agreement, we will work harder to build a resource-circulating city Yeongdeungpo based on an organic cooperation system with residents, environmental groups, and partner organizations."

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