Seoul City-Greengrowth Committee, Carbon Neutral Citizen Action Group and Waste Reduction... 35% Decrease in Household Waste

Autonomous District 2050 Carbon Neutral Citizen Action Group of 303 Members Participate in 12-Week 'Trash Diet'
Measure and Reduce 12 Types of Waste Including General Trash and Recycling by Category

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] As a result of Seoul citizens practicing waste reduction in daily life for three months by purchasing small quantities of unpackaged ingredients, carrying shopping bags, personal cups, and handkerchiefs, they reduced household waste by 35%.

On the 8th, Seoul City and the Green Seoul Citizens' Committee announced that from June to September, 303 members of the Carbon Neutral 2050 Citizen Action Group from autonomous districts practiced a "Waste Diet." The Green Seoul Citizens' Committee, established in 1995 as the nation's first public-private cooperative committee, has been engaged in various activities over the past 27 years to create a pleasant environment in Seoul, such as establishing Seoul Agenda 21 and the Cool Seoul Campaign.

This project was conducted through voluntary applications from citizen action groups in each autonomous district. A total of 342 members from 24 autonomous districts applied, and 303 completed the activities. Participants measured their waste output weekly using digital scales and recorded the data on checklists submitted to their districts. Seoul City and the Green Seoul Citizens' Committee collected the records and sent them to the Green Consumer Network, the organizing body, for analysis. Additionally, participants shared their impressions and ideas for reducing waste through an online communication channel.

Twelve types of waste were measured: general waste disposed of in volume-based waste bags and nine types of recyclable waste. Two types of delivery containers were also included. Glass bottles and disposable spoons were counted by quantity, while all others were measured in grams (g). The estimated total waste output during the activity period was calculated by comparing the first week's measurements, taken according to usual habits, with actual output, and the reduction rate was computed.

According to the analysis by the Green Consumer Network National Council, which organized the Waste Diet project, the highest reduction rate was for disposable spoons (50.8%). General waste (35.2%) and plastic (23.2%) followed. The lowest reduction rate was for Styrofoam (14.6%).

The most common reduction methods among participants were using shopping bags (94 people) and refraining from ordering delivery food (64 people). Use of tumblers (personal cups), reusable containers, reuse of vinyl, and purchasing small quantities followed. Other methods included boiling water for drinking, refusing disposable items, and avoiding products with excessive packaging.

Seoul City plans to expand the Waste Diet to single-person households, youth, and the general public. Waste reduction methods discovered directly by participants will be provided as citizen guidance materials (card news). The results of this Waste Diet activity will be posted on the Green Seoul Citizens' Committee caf? for public access.

Yoo Yeon-sik, Head of Seoul City’s Climate and Environment Headquarters, said, “Since the global COVID-19 pandemic, disposable waste has increased significantly, making waste reduction activities in daily life even more important. Seoul City will actively support citizens in reducing household waste through various methods, including the Waste Diet.”

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