Uijeongbu City Fulfills Citizens' Forum Promises in Resource Recovery Facility Modernization Project

Securing Transparency and Trust Through Citizens' Forum
Promoting a 230-Ton Underground Fiscal Project
Enhancing Environmental Safety and Expanding Resident Benefits

On May 21, Uijeongbu City in Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Kim Donggeun) held a press briefing in the city hall press room, presided over by Kim Bokyung, Director of the Environmental Resources Bureau, to explain the progress of the 'Resource Recovery Facility Modernization Project' and the status of reflecting residents' demands.

Kim Bokyung, Director of the Environmental Resources Bureau, is explaining the progress of the 'Resource Recovery Facility Modernization Project' and the status of reflecting residents' demands during a press briefing on the 21st. Provided by Uijeongbu City

This project was reconsidered following the 'Uijeongbu Municipal Solid Waste Incineration and Treatment Facility Problem-Solving Citizens' Forum' held in July 2023.

During the forum, several key decisions were made: ▲expansion of incineration facility capacity (68.4%) ▲establishment of a new site as the optimal alternative (70.2%) ▲minimization of environmental pollution (30.9%) and creation of a local landmark and underground facility (24.6%) as ways to increase resident acceptance ▲selection of Jail-dong as the site (76.1%) ▲promotion of the project as a fiscal project to secure necessary funding (96.1%) ▲minimization of health and environmental impacts by reducing pollutant emissions and maximizing incinerator chimney height (23.45%) and construction considering the landscape, such as undergrounding (21.45%).

Based on the forum's outcomes, Uijeongbu City is pursuing the project as a fiscal initiative, planning to construct major incineration facilities with a daily processing capacity of 230 tons underground within the Environmental Resources Center in Jail-dong. As the project was selected in November 2024 as an exemption from the preliminary feasibility study, the city is currently undergoing a review of the appropriateness of the project plan.

The city is also actively addressing environmental safety and residents' concerns.

The strategic environmental impact assessment conducted from 2019 to 2022 found all three chimney height options?59m, 80m, and 100m?to be appropriate. The city has planned to install the 100m chimney, which is the strictest standard. Further environmental impact assessments will be conducted to specify measures for minimizing pollutant emissions.

Plans are also underway to create sports facilities for residents' benefit. After a resident listening session last year, plans were developed for facilities such as a swimming pool and indoor golf practice range, as well as for greening the access road. Actual construction will proceed in consultation with the Residents' Support Council.

The city is also actively working to resolve inconveniences for Jail-dong residents. Installation of basic infrastructure such as city gas, water supply and sewage, and roads has been completed, and additional installations are being pursued in accordance with relevant laws and administrative procedures. Safety facilities such as soundproof walls, CCTV, and road lighting have also been expanded. Of the 59 resident requests, 20 have already been addressed, and the remainder are under review or in administrative procedures.

Kim Bokyung, Director of the Environmental Resources Bureau, stated, "We will respect the results of the citizens' forum that solved the incinerator issue together with the citizens and continue to push forward with the modernization project," adding, "We will do our utmost to communicate consistently with Jail-dong residents and resolve any inconveniences."

Meanwhile, since the citizens' forum, the city has held five resident meetings, two resident listening sessions, and two resident briefings to share project progress and gather residents' opinions. Going forward, the city will continue to communicate through resident briefings and, based on the results of the project plan review, promptly carry out administrative procedures, aiming to begin construction in 2027 and complete the project by 2030.

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