Mapo-gu Creates 'Incineration-Free City'... First Incineration Zero Site Unveiled

Park Gang-su, Mayor of Mapo-gu, Holds Briefing on the Morning of the 27th for the 'Mapo-style Incineration Waste Reduction Policy and Opening of Incineration Zero Store'

A resource circulation space capable of washing, separate disposal, and intermediate processing... Plans up to the 100th store

A reward system established where points earned can be refunded in cash or Zero Pay

Park Gang-su, Mayor of Mapo-gu, announced the 'Mapo-style Incineration Waste Reduction Policy' to create a city without incineration on the 27th, and introduced the 'Recycling Intermediate Processing Center Incineration Zero Store' (hereinafter Incineration Zero Store) to implement it.

Mapo-gu has continued to demand a complete cancellation of the Seoul Metropolitan Resource Recovery Facility site selection and has proposed 'proper separate disposal and pre-treatment of household waste' as an alternative to building an incineration plant. In particular, it has proven through three public experiments that revolutionary reduction of household waste is possible solely through proper separate disposal and pre-treatment, and based on this, it established the Mapo-style incineration waste reduction policy.

Mayor Park said, “The issue of additional incineration plant installation is not solely the responsibility of Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, but the fundamental cause is a lack of citizen awareness about proper separate disposal,” adding, “It is essential to first fundamentally improve citizen awareness by creating spaces capable of proper separate disposal and intermediate processing throughout the region so that residents can voluntarily participate in recycling policies.”

He continued, “Once such a system is established and spread, the Mapo-style incineration waste reduction policy aims for incineration to become unnecessary in our area, and the first Incineration Zero Store is the starting point.”

He also visited the Incineration Zero Store and demonstrated directly, saying, “The Incineration Zero Store is a place where you can bring in waste and leave empty-handed while even earning money.”

The 'Incineration Zero Store No. 1' located in the plaza of Mapo-gu Office is a place where any resident can separately dispose of and pre-treat household waste.

Inside a structure measuring 9m wide and 3m long, resource circulation work is carried out, including washing, sorting, crushing, and compressing household waste to turn it into clean recyclable resources. A resource circulation assistant is stationed on-site to guide visiting residents through the process.

There are no item restrictions. Collection bins are subdivided into 18 categories such as plastic bags, glass bottles, paper, cans, plastics, and clothing, and volume-based waste bags are also provided for items that cannot be recycled.

Additionally, the facility is equipped with can and PET bottle crushers and shredders that reduce the volume of recyclables to between one-quarter and one-eighth, and a Styrofoam compactor that converts waste Styrofoam into a resource called INGOT. A district official explained, “Through these processing steps, the unit price of recyclables increases and logistics costs are expected to decrease.”

To increase residents’ interest and participation in resource circulation, a reward system has been established for residents using the Incineration Zero Store. Points are accumulated based on the set compensation price per item or weight for 18 categories, ranging from 10 to 600 won. Accumulated points are refunded in cash or Zero Pay after one week.

The district plans to initially install five Incineration Zero Stores in the area, starting with the pilot operation of the first store. After reviewing usage rates and recycling processing effects, the plan is to expand to over 100 locations using national and public land in apartment complexes and general residential areas.

Park Gang-su, Mayor of Mapo-gu, said, “The claim that additional incineration plant installation is the only alternative is wrong. We need to find the right way to process waste, not just another place to dispose of it, and if there is a fundamental solution before building more undesirable facilities, that should be chosen,” adding, “Proper separate disposal and the Incineration Zero Store that implements it will be the starting signal to fundamentally solve the waste problem.”

Meanwhile, as Mayor Park Gang-su personally explained the first Incineration Zero Store on this day, there is a growing possibility that it will spread not only to all 24 autonomous districts of Seoul but also to local governments nationwide.

◆Press Statement by Park Gang-su, Mayor of Mapo-gu

Solving Waste Problems Fundamentally with the Mapo-style Incineration Waste Reduction Policy ‘Incineration Zero Store’

Hello, I am Park Gang-su, Mayor of Mapo-gu.

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change announcement on March 20, the 'golden time' to avoid extreme climate change crises such as species extinction is set at 2030.

With less than seven years remaining, it is regrettable that Mapo is facing the issue of additional incineration plant installation at a time when the government, local governments, and all citizens must unite to lower the rising global temperature.

We all know very well the seriousness of the increasing waste problem. A solution must be found before the metropolitan landfill site closes in 2026.

Building additional incineration plants is not the only answer. We must first reduce the overflowing waste. In fact, Mapo-gu has proven several times that revolutionary reduction is possible through proper recycling separation and pre-treatment of household waste.

Last October, an analysis of 100 20-liter volume-based waste bags actually discharged in Mapo-gu showed that 64.3% were recyclable resources.

Subsequently, in an apartment complex, it was confirmed that a 56.58% reduction was possible simply through resident promotion of recycling. Using specialized equipment for pre-treatment, incineration waste was reduced by 87%, an astonishing result.

Currently, 3,200 tons of household waste are generated daily in Seoul. If waste is reduced by half as in Mapo-gu’s recycling separation experiment, it would be 1,600 tons. Even a 30% reduction to 2,240 tons can be sufficiently handled by the four incineration plants currently in operation.

Then, is the easy solution of building additional incineration plants only a problem for Seoul and Mapo-gu? No. The biggest problem lies in citizens’ awareness, who do not properly separate waste and discard too much. Now is the time for all of us to take responsibility and consider appropriate treatment methods.

To prevent additional incineration plant construction, the actual recycling rate must be increased. Proper disposal is necessary for recycling. I clearly state that if recyclables are not mixed with general waste and 100% of recyclables can be recycled, there will be no need to bury or burn additional waste.

We must now create a new framework to solve the waste problem. A fundamental shift in waste treatment policy is urgently needed rather than temporary measures like landfilling or incineration.

Mapo-gu will take the lead in opening the door to this fundamental shift. I strongly emphasize that the start is the Mapo-style waste reduction policy, the ‘Incineration Zero Store.’

When residents bring recyclables to the Incineration Zero Store, PET bottles are immediately crushed to one-eighth their size, cans are compressed to one-quarter, and Styrofoam is processed to one-tenth and reborn as a resource called INGOT. Discharged recyclables are compensated according to subdivided amounts by item.

Washing of contaminants remaining on recyclables is also immediately possible at the Incineration Zero Store. Unfortunately, if non-recyclable items are included, they can be discarded in volume-based waste bags.

Through primary processing, the value of recyclables increases, and volume reduction dramatically cuts transportation costs. Along with recyclables discharged on the street, urban aesthetics damaged by illegal dumping and inconvenient and dangerous pedestrian environments can also be improved.

The Incineration Zero Store, piloted in the plaza of Mapo-gu Office, will be initially installed in five locations in the Mapo area. Later, it will be expanded to over 100 locations using national and public land in apartment complexes, general residential areas, and shopping districts.

Seoul City claims that additional incineration plant installation is the only alternative ahead of the 2026 landfill ban. But this is wrong. We must find the right way to process waste, not just another place to dispose of it.

Before building any more undesirable facilities that everyone avoids, if there is a fundamental solution, it must be chosen. Proper separate disposal can drastically reduce waste discharge, and additional incineration plant construction will not be necessary.

Budgets made from citizens’ precious taxes must be saved and managed like household finances. Seoul City plans to spend enormous costs on incineration plant construction and additionally offer over 10 billion won as compensation for installing undesirable facilities.

Compared to that, if more excellent effects can be achieved with a small budget through active recycling promotion and operation of the Incineration Zero Store, which policy do you think is right to choose?

Waste treatment policies must change for all of us to live.

Outdated waste policies need a fundamental shift!

I am confident that the Mapo-gu Incineration Zero Store for proper recycling separation and household waste intermediate treatment will be the starting signal to fundamentally solve the waste problem. Thank you.

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