[2023 National Audit] "No Place to Throw Coffee Cups"... Seoul City Trash Bins Decreased by 2,000

The number of public trash bins in Seoul has decreased by nearly 2,000 over the past three years.

According to data received on the 23rd from Seoul City by Choi In-ho, a member of the National Assembly Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea, the number of public trash bins in Seoul was 6,940 in 2019, 6,242 in 2020, 5,613 in 2021, and 4,956 in 2022, showing a decrease of about 2,000 over three years.

In particular, roadside trash bins decreased the most, from 4,375 in 2019 to 1,860 in 2022, a reduction of about 2,500. Bus stop bins increased from 1,712 in 2019 to 2,926 in 2020 but then decreased to 2,537 in 2021 and 2,689 in 2022. Trash bins at subway station entrances dropped from 853 in 2019 to 407 in 2022, a decrease of 446.

Assemblyman Choi pointed out that although Seoul City revised the city bus safety operation standards ordinance in 2018 to restrict bringing food onto city buses, it also reduced public trash bins at bus stops and along roadsides, forcing citizens to illegally dispose of beverage waste near bus stops. He said, "As of the end of September this year, the number of trash bins in Seoul is 4,835, but to increase it to 5,500 by the end of the year as announced by Seoul City, the city must promptly secure the related budget and take swift action." He added, "To prevent illegal dumping, trash bins near bus stops must be actively increased first."

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