Zero Food Waste Campaign at Dongdaemun-gu Restaurants

Dongdaemun-gu Promotes Campaign Until November to Practice Carbon Neutrality and Reduce Leftover Food Disposal Costs

‘No Leftover Food Day’ Operated Every Monday... Promotional Campaigns Held on the Second Monday of Each Month to Encourage Participation

Dongdaemun-gu, a carbon-neutral city (Mayor Ilpyeong Lee), is conducting the ‘Zero Leftover Food Campaign in Cafeterias’ for seven months from May to November to practice carbon neutrality in daily life and reduce leftover food disposal costs in district cafeterias.

The daily average amount of food waste generated in Seoul is about 2,500 tons, accounting for 26.3% of total household waste. Food waste is difficult to recycle due to its high salt concentration and moisture content, and a large amount of carbon is generated during treatment processes such as incineration and landfill.

To realize carbon neutrality, the district has started a campaign to gradually reduce the approximately 120 kg of food waste generated daily in district cafeterias to zero.

To improve the habit of carelessly throwing away food, ‘No Leftover Food Day’ is operated every Monday, and on the second Monday of each month, a campaign to reduce leftover food is held in front of the cafeterias to encourage employee participation. When no leftover food is left, 100 won is paid back, and the campaign will continue until November.

Ilpyeong Lee, Mayor of Dongdaemun-gu, stated, “Small actions to reduce leftover food can be the beginning of a big change that saves the Earth,” and added, “We will continue to make efforts starting from small daily practices until the day Dongdaemun-gu becomes a carbon-neutral future city by 2050.”

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