Wando-gun, First Local Government to Introduce Eco-Friendly Styrofoam Incinerator

Normal Operation in July, Rapid Processing of Newly Installed Marine Debris This Year

Wando County can now quickly dispose of waste Styrofoam using an eco-friendly incinerator. (Photo by Wando County)

[Wando＝Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Kyung-pil] Wando-gun, Jeollanam-do, has become able to quickly dispose of waste Styrofoam generated from natural disasters and aquaculture fishing activities using an eco-friendly incinerator.

According to the county on the 22nd, the eco-friendly incinerator for waste Styrofoam was installed in Nohwa-eup, and currently, trial operation has begun to ensure normal operation of the incinerator next month, with preliminary inspections of equipment and control systems completed.

The method of disposing of waste Styrofoam using an eco-friendly incinerator was first introduced by Wando-gun among local governments, and it took about two years from project initiation to completion.

In order to meet the Ministry of Environment's air pollution emission standards, the facility underwent four rounds of equipment improvements and enhancements, and received final approval notification from the Ministry of Environment at the end of last month.

Due to geographical characteristics, waste Styrofoam scattered across each eup, myeon, port, and dock has been outsourced to companies for disposal until now, but as the amount of waste Styrofoam has accumulated annually compared to disposal capacity, secondary damage and deterioration of marine scenery have caused considerable problems.

The county plans to use the eco-friendly incinerator to more rapidly dispose of marine waste such as waste Styrofoam, waste ropes, and waste nets, and plans to additionally install one in Geumil-eup this year.

Furthermore, to promote coastal and port cleanup activities and monitor and guide marine environment and pollution behaviors, 36 sea environment guardians will be deployed across 12 eup and myeon to spread participation in marine environment conservation activities, and the county intends to encourage participation from fishing cooperatives and local residents to form a community consensus.