Suncheon-si, Study Tour of Advanced Waste Treatment Facilities

We Must Break the Stereotype That Resource Recovery Facilities Are Nuisance Facilities Anymore

Suncheon City, Jeollanam-do (Mayor Noh Gwan-gyu) announced that from December 13 last year to the 15th of this month, they visited Hanam Union Park, a well-equipped waste treatment facility and aboveground convergence complex, twice a week together with civic groups, journalists, religious organizations, and professional groups.

The advanced site tour was organized to share advanced cases of waste treatment facilities and to suppress waste generation among citizens.

[Photo by Suncheon City]

Meanwhile, the city conducted a survey among participants during the advanced site tour. Among 234 respondents, 83.3% answered that the generation and treatment of household waste in Suncheon City are serious, with 32.5% saying very serious and 50.8% saying serious.

In response to the question, "What do you think about waste treatment facilities (incinerators)?", 66.6% answered "an essential facility," which was the highest, followed by "necessary facility" at 22.6%, and "disliked but necessary facility" at 9.4%.

Also, when asked about "installing the facility near their residence," 79% responded in favor. Specifically, 31.2% were strongly in favor, 47.8% in favor, 19.2% neutral, and 1.7% opposed, showing a positive response to the underground waste treatment facility and aboveground convergence complex.

The main reason for supporting the installation of waste treatment facilities was the use of resident convenience facilities at 34.5%, followed by trust in the treatment facility at 31.3%. Regarding the most desired facilities linked to the installation of resident convenience facilities, 57.6% chose sports and leisure facilities such as parks, swimming pools, and camping sites.

Additionally, the reasons for opposing the installation of waste treatment facilities were inconvenience to living environments such as transport vehicles at 75%, and concerns about safety and health at 25%. Respondents answered that the most effective ways to persuade residents opposing the installation of waste treatment facilities were raising awareness through promotion, perfect technology, democratization and transparency of procedures, underground installation of facilities, and appropriate compensation, in that order.

A Suncheon City official stated, "After thoroughly reviewing various opinions and concerns of citizens, we plan to develop the facility as a regional landmark combining cutting-edge technology and convergence complex facilities for future generations, just like a citizen said, 'Who would think this is an incinerator?'"

He also added, "We will do our best to become a top city in Korea where ecology, culture, and energy industries coexist through carbon neutrality in response to global climate crises such as droughts, heavy snow, heavy rain, and earthquakes, and energy circulation through waste resource recovery."

Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seon-sik hss79@asiae.co.kr

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