Seongdong-gu Forms 'Recyclable Waste Separation Volunteer Group'

Creating a Symbiotic Community Culture Between Residents and Security Workers in 12 Complexes, Along with a Proper Waste Separation Campaign

The 'Separate Waste Disposal Volunteer Group' of Majang Serim Apartment is providing guidance on proper waste separation.

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] “You have to remove the label from PET bottles before disposing of them like this.”

On the 19th, at a recycling collection site inside Majang Serim Apartment in Seongdong-gu, people wearing blue vests are busy guiding residents on proper recycling disposal. The people wearing the vests are residents of this apartment complex, divided into teams of about 10, helping with recycling disposal twice a month.

This is a ‘Recycling Disposal Volunteer Group’ formed to assist security workers who suffer from the heavy workload of recycling collection all day due to the surge in recyclable waste caused by COVID-19 and improper sorting, as well as conflicts with residents and refusal of collection by processing companies, facing triple hardships.

Seongdong-gu (Mayor Jeong Won-oh) has organized the ‘Recycling Disposal Volunteer Group’ and launched the ‘Wise Recycling Disposal Campaign’ to improve the working environment of security workers struggling with the ‘recycling crisis’ and to facilitate communication with residents.

The district formed ‘Recycling Disposal Volunteer Groups’ consisting of about 10 residents in 12 apartment complexes, including Majang Serim Apartment. This is part of a project to create a win-win residential culture following the human rights protection agreement for workers in apartment complexes, signed last July with the Seongdong-gu Apartment Residents’ Representatives Council Federation and the Korea Housing Managers Association Seongdong Branch.

The volunteer group participates directly once or twice a month on recycling disposal days to sort recyclables together with residents and to inform them about the methods and importance of proper recycling. Meanwhile, security workers are given rest time.

A district official said, “Since July, we have been recruiting volunteers mainly from residents’ representative meetings, community activation members, and neighborhood leaders in the applied complexes, and the volunteer groups are currently operating. Apartment complexes in the district wishing to participate can apply through the Apartment Complex Division. Residents themselves are stepping up to understand and help security workers’ difficulties, resolving potential conflicts and disputes in advance, thereby contributing to the creation of a win-win community culture in apartment complexes.”

The district is also promoting ‘Wise Recycling Disposal’ to inform residents of the correct recycling methods. It provides information on items not subject to recycling collection such as light bulbs, coated paper, and instant noodle cups, as well as accurate guidance on sorting, such as organizing cardboard boxes and removing labels from PET bottles, enabling proper recycling practices starting from households.

The district produces videos and promotional materials for various online and offline promotions, with the Recycling Disposal Volunteer Group acting as advocates.

Mr. Lee (69), a security guard at Majang Serim Apartment, said, “There are many cases where trash that should not be disposed of as recyclables is thrown away, but I hate to complain to each person, so I get exhausted sorting everything alone all day. I am grateful that residents are stepping up to help like this, which seems to completely relieve the difficulties I had.”

The district explained that this attempt was possible because the residents’ initiative has increased through continuous support and project implementation of the apartment complex community activation project over the past several years, and sufficient opportunities for communication between residents and apartment complex workers have been provided.

Jeong Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, said, “Eighty percent of housing types in Seongdong-gu are apartment complexes. Through this project, we expect that apartment complexes will take the lead in sharing a consensus on proper recycling disposal and that a culture of mutual respect and consideration between residents and apartment complex workers will be established as a win-win community culture.”