Suncheon-si, Recruiting Pilot Participants for Eco-Friendly Funeral Halls Without Single-Use Products

Up to 40 Million Won Support, Launching Disposable Product Diet

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Hyung-kwon] Suncheon City (Mayor Heo Seok) announced on the 2nd that it will create eco-friendly funeral halls targeting funeral halls that use a lot of disposable products to reduce disposable items that have increased since COVID-19 and to establish an environment befitting the ecological capital Suncheon.

Since 2020, the city has formed a National Design Team (selected as an excellent project by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety) with funeral hall officials and citizens to discuss practical measures, and from this year, it plans to select one pilot model to actively spread the culture of eco-friendly funeral halls without disposable products.

The eco-friendly funeral hall creation project supports one funeral hall by providing dishwashers, dryers, and facility improvement costs to create an environment for using reusable containers, encourages visitors to use reusable tableware through public awareness campaigns, and aims to create a disposable-free environment together with citizens.

The city plans to provide up to 40 million KRW in support depending on the number of funeral rooms, on the condition that disposable product use is prohibited in the funeral halls. Funeral halls wishing to participate in this project should submit an application to the Suncheon City Hall Autonomous Innovation Division by the 12th.

A Suncheon City official said, “Reducing disposable products is something we must practice for our future, and we plan to create a pilot model where reusable containers can be used in funeral halls.” He added, “For the eco-friendly funeral culture without disposable products to take root, above all, citizens’ interest and participation are necessary.”

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Environment is currently announcing a legislative notice until the 29th to expand regulations on disposable products by amending the ‘Act on the Promotion of Saving and Recycling of Resources.’