Haenam-gun's 'Trash Also Becomes Money' Recycling Material Value Compensation Receives Great Response

A field event for the recycling reward system is being held. (Photo by Haenam-gun)

[Haenam＝Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Hyun] Haenam-gun, Jeollanam-do, has received great response to the recyclable material price compensation system, a resident-participatory resource circulation project implemented since March.

According to the county on the 24th, a total of 243 residents have participated in the recyclable material price compensation system implemented on March 15, collecting 12,108 kg of recyclable materials so far.

The types of recyclable materials include 68,668 transparent PET bottles, 342 kg of plastic, 331 kg of cans, 6,071 kg of paper, 4,926 kg of clothing, and 436 kg of bottles, with differential unit prices applied to accumulate 2,416,702 points. In addition to individual participation, all departments and offices of the county office participated, accumulating 283,207 points.

The project, promoted as a Haenam-type New Deal project in 2021, exchanges points accumulated by bringing recyclable products by item for Haenam Love Gift Certificates.

To receive points from the price compensation system, participants must practice "emptying, rinsing, and properly separating" to bring materials cleanly so that they can be 100% recycled.

The county plans to expand the resource circulation project, which has been piloted in Haenam-eup, to include all residents by extending it to the myeon (township) areas starting next month.

Haenam-eup will continue to operate daily as before, while the myeon areas will operate only on designated days every two weeks. Additionally, unit prices for some items such as plastic, empty bottles, and clothing will be adjusted to increase the collection rate of recyclable materials.

The county expects that expanding the recyclable material price compensation system will not only increase the collection rate of recyclable materials but also reduce waste generation through proper recyclable material disposal and improve the rate of separated collection.

Furthermore, through the Smart Green City creation project "Smart Resource Circulation Village," selected by the Ministry of Environment last year, a recyclable material exchange center will be installed within the eco-platform facility, and the resident-participatory resource circulation project will continue to be expanded.

County Governor Myeong Hyun-gwan said, "The price compensation system, introduced as a practical measure to respond to climate change by reducing carbon and fine dust emissions caused by waste generation and incineration, is successfully settling in," adding, "By expanding the project throughout Haenam, we hope for active participation from many residents to maintain the status of Clean No.1 in Ttangkkeut Haenam."