Seongdong-gu Installs Smart Waste Cooking Oil Collection Bins... Convenience and Resource Recycling in One

Published 12 Dec.2024 08:00(KST)

Installed at 4 locations including Sageundong, Haengdang 2-dong, Geumho 2,3-ga-dong Community Centers, and Sowol Art Hall Plaza; easy and simple use by inserting the container directly into the machine... Cash-equivalent points individually provided reflecting market price based on volume, collected waste cooking oil recycled into eco-friendly fuels such as biofuel

Seongdong-gu, Seoul (Mayor Jeong Won-oh) announced that it has installed 'Waste Cooking Oil Smart Collection Boxes' at four locations within the district to increase the collection rate of waste cooking oil, which has high recycling value as biofuel.

Until now, the waste cooking oil collection method required residents to gather a certain amount of waste cooking oil, transfer it into empty PET bottles, and then deliver them to the local community service centers. This process caused inconvenience to residents and posed difficulties in management.

Accordingly, the district newly installed 'Waste Cooking Oil Smart Collection Boxes' at four locations: the community service centers of Sageun-dong, Haengdang 2-dong, Geumho 2 and 3-ga-dong, and the plaza in front of Sowol Art Hall.

The 'Smart Collection Box' allows anyone to easily and simply deposit waste cooking oil containers directly into the machine. It also accepts various containers such as cooking oil bottles, beverage bottles, and PET bottles, enhancing convenience. Additionally, when waste cooking oil is deposited into the collection box, points reflecting the market price according to the volume are individually awarded, and these points can later be redeemed for cash.

Seongdong-gu Installs Smart Waste Cooking Oil Collection Bins... Convenience and Resource Recycling in One

The collected waste cooking oil is expected to have a positive effect on environmental protection by being recycled into biofuel. It is mainly converted into biodiesel, which is recognized as a renewable energy source and used as diesel fuel for vehicles. By law, biodiesel must be blended at 4% with diesel fuel.

Furthermore, it is planned to be used as an eco-friendly energy source replacing fossil fuels in ship fuel, aviation fuel, and bio-refinery products.

The district expects that the introduction of the 'Waste Cooking Oil Smart Collection Boxes' will lead to increased resident participation in recycling and higher collection volumes of waste cooking oil, thereby laying the foundation for building a sustainable urban environment. In the future, the district plans to expand operations by analyzing resident usage rates and accessibility to select additional installation sites.

Jeong Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, stated, “The 'Waste Cooking Oil Smart Collection Boxes' are expected to play an important role in efficiently recycling resources and protecting the environment by encouraging voluntary participation from residents.” He added, “We will actively promote life-centered resource circulation policies that add convenience to residents’ daily lives to create a sustainable Seongdong.”