Gwangju Dong-gu, Pilot Operation of 3 Resource Circulation Model Villages

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] Dong-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City (Mayor Im Taek) announced on the 25th that it will pilot operate three resource circulation model villages where local residents take the lead in managing recyclable resources and promoting resource circulation.

The resource circulation villages are projects designed to address waste issues as community problems, jointly seeking solutions such as proper waste disposal, resource recycling, and reduction of illegal dumping.

Dong-gu plans to gradually expand the project, starting this year with the operation of three districts: Sansu 1-dong, Jisan 1-dong, and Jiwon 1-dong.

The project includes ▲forming resident councils to ensure the sustainability of resident practice movements ▲customized alley talks targeting specific areas, mainly one-room apartment clusters, in connection with resource circulation interpreters ▲and establishing recycling neighborhood yards as recycling collection hubs.

To raise residents' awareness of recyclable waste disposal, AI recycling vending machines will be installed in the resource circulation villages. The recycling vending machines automatically sort cans and PET bottles, awarding 5 points for each recyclable item deposited, which can be converted into cash once 2,000 points are accumulated.

Additionally, a comprehensive survey of habitual illegal dumping areas and abandoned waste will be conducted, and areas with severe waste problems will be designated as special management zones under a cleaning responsibility system, aiming to reduce illegal dumping areas by 50%. To enhance project efficiency, performance review meetings will be held in the first and second halves of the year.

Resource circulation villages, created through public-private cooperation, are expected to contribute to ultimately restoring the village community by enabling residents to autonomously recognize and solve local community problems.

Im Taek, Mayor of Dong-gu, said, “For waste reduction, it is most important that residents voluntarily participate and communicate to solve village problems,” adding, “We hope the pilot villages established this time will serve as exemplary cases of public-private cooperation and resource circulation policy implementation.”