Gwangmyeong City Focuses on Stabilizing Supply of Volume-Based Waste Bags... "No Price Increase"

'Three Bags Per Person' Limit to Curb Unusual Surge in Demand
Continuous Monitoring of Order Volume
Balanced Distribution to Prevent Stockpiling in Certain Areas

On April 1, Gwangmyeong City in Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Park Seungwon) announced that it will implement a “three bags per person” purchase limit for volume-based waste bags in order to stabilize supply.

Gwangmyeong City, Full Effort to Stabilize Supply of Volume-Based Waste Bags. Provided by Gwangmyeong City

This measure is intended to prevent hoarding of volume-based waste bags by some individuals, which has recently emerged due to concerns over raw material supply amid international instability, and to ensure that actual consumers—city residents—can purchase bags without inconvenience.

According to the city, while the average daily supply of volume-based waste bags was about 30,000 bags under normal circumstances, it has surged more than fourfold recently due to hoarding. The city responded immediately by restoring the supply volume to normal levels and decided on this purchase limit to prevent a situation in which citizens in genuine need are unable to obtain bags due to hoarding within the limited supply.

Accordingly, until supply stabilizes, each person will be able to purchase up to three volume-based waste bags, regardless of their type or specification. For example, if one bag for food waste is purchased, up to two general waste bags can also be purchased.

Prior to implementing this measure, the city had continuously monitored the sales situation through on-site inspections and maintained a balanced supply system to prevent stock from being concentrated in specific areas or sales points.

Mayor Park Seungwon stated, “Currently, volume-based waste bags are being produced as usual, and we have secured inventory above a certain level, so there are no major issues with supply,” adding, “The price of the bags is determined by ordinance, and there are absolutely no plans to raise prices due to raw material supply issues.”

He continued, “We ask for your active cooperation in this unavoidable purchase limit so that citizens in real need can obtain bags,” and added, “We hope everyone will practice thorough waste separation and help reduce waste generation and participate in resource circulation.”

The city is also reviewing contingency plans to prepare for the worst-case scenario in which prolonged international turmoil disrupts the supply of volume-based waste bags.

Mayor Park has directed relevant departments, stating, “If the supply imbalance worsens, please prepare proactive emergency measures, such as temporarily allowing trash disposal using regular bags, to minimize inconvenience for citizens.”

Gwangmyeong City plans to continue closely monitoring market conditions and make every effort to manage the entire supply process of volume-based waste bags to minimize inconvenience for its residents.

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