Gangnam-gu to Collect Food Waste Free of Charge from 9,811 Restaurants Until June

Extension of Support for Small Business Owners Facing Reduced Operating Hours and Sales Due to Prolonged Social Distancing... Average Benefit of 204,600 KRW per Store

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Gangnam-gu (District Mayor Jeong Soon-gyun) will resume free food waste collection for 9,811 small restaurants from the 20th until June to alleviate the management burden on small business owners struggling due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.

The free food waste collection, which the district first implemented nationwide in April last year, ended at the end of last year. However, considering the increase in small business owners whose livelihoods are threatened by a sharp drop in sales due to extended shortened operating hours, the program is being reinstated.

The free collection applies to general and casual restaurants with a store area of less than 200㎡.

During this period, businesses can dispose of food waste in designated containers without using volume-based bags or food waste payment certificates.

Kim Young-gwan, Director of the Cleaning Administration Division, said, “This support is expected to reduce fees by an average of 34,100 KRW per store per month, totaling 204,600 KRW over six months. We hope that the additional extension of free food waste collection will bring some warmth to the stagnant local economy.”

Following last year’s provision of up to 4 million KRW in support funds to stores affected by visits from COVID-19 confirmed cases, the district recently implemented an emergency public utility fee support of 500,000 KRW per store for small business owners with annual sales under 200 million KRW, requiring only minimal personal information. These policies aim to provide practical help in overcoming the crisis faced by neighborhood commercial districts.