Eunpyeong District, western Seoul, lends reusable tableware free of charge to visitors at the Mount Aengbong Family Campground. [SEOUL METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT]
Visitors at the city-run Mount Aengbong Family Campground in Eunpyeong District, western Seoul, can now borrow reusable tableware instead of bringing disposable products. Stainless steel bowls, plates, cups and utensils are provided free of charge and only need to be rinsed once before being returned.
The dishes are then sent to a professional cleaning center, where they undergo commercial-grade washing and sterilization before being returned and used again.
Eunpyeong District introduced the service in July last year as part of efforts to reduce disposable waste at the campground.
Seongdong District, eastern Seoul, launched an initiative in Seongsu-dong, one of Seoul’s busiest hotspots, in August of last year, to reduce disposable cup litter by installing mobile collection bins.
Before the bins were introduced, many cups were discarded on the street. The district now collects roughly 3,000 to 4,000 cups per day on weekends through the system.
Policies aimed at reducing disposable products and increasing recycling in daily life are spreading across Seoul.
Household waste generated across the city during February and March this year fell by an average of 29 tons per day compared to the same period last year, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on Sunday. Daily recyclable waste collection also increased by 60 tons.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government evaluated all 25 district offices during February and March as part of a citywide household waste reduction campaign.
Staffers sort recyclable waste at a sorting facility in Dobong District, western Seoul, on Jan. 26. [NEW1]
The initiative was launched in response to estimates showing that each Seoul resident throws away the equivalent of 48 10-liter (2.6-gallon) garbage bags of household waste every year. The campaign encouraged residents to reduce waste by at least one bag annually.
The evaluation focused on four categories: reducing household waste, increasing recycling, public participation and district-specific projects.
The results showed measurable reductions in household waste generation. The campaign surpassed its target, attracting 109,838 participants.
Yeongdeungpo District, western Seoul, introduced free collection for small home appliances, which were previously discarded in standard garbage bags.
Residents exchange recyclables such as used batteries and transparent plastic bottles for pay-as-you-throw garbage bags at a mobile recycling station in Daejeon on March 31. [NEWS1]
The program covers electronic products weighing less than 12 kilograms (26 pounds), such as microwave ovens and hair dryers.
Residents can dispose of up to four small appliances through the district office’s website or local community centers. Households disposing of five or more appliances can request free home pickup services.
Seongbuk District, eastern Seoul, also drew around 1,100 residents to its resource circulation program, where residents can bring in their recyclables in exchange for pay-as-you-throw garbage bags.
Based on the evaluation results, Seoul plans to share successful cases with district offices and provide a combined 1 billion won ($6.84 million) in financial support for outstanding local projects.
The city also plans to gradually place greater emphasis on household waste reduction and recycling performance in future second-round and comprehensive evaluations.
“We will continue working to produce visible results by identifying effective waste reduction policies and improving related systems,” said Kwon Min, the head of the Climate and Environment division at the Seoul Metropolitan Government.
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
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