Transparent PET Bottle Separation Still Ignored... Security Guards Struggling Under Pressure

"How to Kill a Security Guard" Lamented Voices... Sometimes Working 5 to 6 Hours a Day

"Voluntary Resident Participation Is Important" Promotional Notices Distributed... Residents Remain Indifferent

On the 26th, trash is piled up in front of a recycling bin at an apartment complex in Nam-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City.

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Junho] "I am unable to perform other security duties because I have to separate and dispose of transparent PET bottles that were discarded without permission."

On the 28th, at an apartment complex with 356 households in Bongseon-dong, Nam-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City, security guard Park (70) was fighting a "battle with trash" in front of the recycling bin, leaving the security office empty from early morning.

Due to some residents recklessly discarding items, the recycling compartments were indiscriminately mixed with transparent PET bottles, regular PET bottles, cans, and plastics.

A notice saying "Please separate recyclable items by category before disposal" was posted on the wall of the trash area, but no one paid attention and hurriedly left for work.

Although the "Separate Collection System for Transparent PET Bottles" targeting multi-family housing (such as apartments) has entered its second year this year, the related policy has not been properly established due to residents' continued indifference, creating an atmosphere of disposal.

This system aims to build a circular economy by revitalizing the recycling market, requiring that the contents inside transparent PET bottles be emptied, labels removed, bottles crushed, and then separated for disposal.

If violated, fines are imposed depending on the number of offenses: 100,000 KRW for the first offense, 200,000 KRW for the second, and 300,000 KRW for the third or more, with the management office, not the violator, bearing the cost.

Given this situation, there is a limitation in expecting voluntary compliance from residents.

Kim (67), a security guard at an apartment in Nam-gu, lamented that this is a "way to kill security guards."

That day, he was busy with the separation work, thoroughly emptying transparent PET bottles filled with cigarette butts, with the smell of tobacco soaked into his hands and clothes.

It took about 20 to 30 minutes to complete this task, but without a moment to catch his breath, a pile of transparent PET bottles with labels still attached awaited him.

After about another 20 minutes, he finished organizing two sacks worth of compressed transparent PET bottles. When juggling other tasks such as parcel and parking management, there is no way to avoid work gaps.

Kim said, "I spend 5 to 6 hours a day on separate disposal," and pleaded, "Please do not put food residue or cigarette butts inside transparent PET bottles."

Especially with the increase in delivery food demand due to COVID-19, the amount of waste to be separated has also increased, to the point of "work paralysis."

A security guard at an apartment in Bongseon-dong said, "Due to the prolonged COVID-19 situation, the amount of waste discarded at home seems to have increased several times," and lamented, "Working on holidays or substitute holidays is truly hell."

At an apartment complex in Juwol-dong, two security guards manage the entire area. Kim (68) initially took on the role of a "separation disposal evangelist" by posting notices in the elevator and the first-floor main entrance.

However, after being scolded by a drunken resident saying, "Security guards who get paid should take care of it," he quietly handles the cleanup. He performs separation disposal work about twice in the morning and 3 to 4 times in the afternoon on average.

Kim said, "There have been complaints that transparent PET bottles smell bad because they contain contents," and added, "I hope residents become more aware and observe proper waste etiquette."

Currently, Nam-gu encourages resident participation by posting related promotional leaflets on the bulletin boards of apartment entrances and distributing transparent PET bottle recycling bins. An official said, "We believe resident promotion is the most important, so we continue to distribute promotional materials to widely inform residents," and "Active cooperation from residents is necessary."

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