Gyeonggi-do Rolls Up Sleeves to Spread Food Container Reuse Culture... Agreement with Ministry of Environment and Others

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Gyeonggi Province has joined hands with the Ministry of Environment, Hwaseong City, Gyeonggi Province Corporation, Korea Foodservice Industry Association, and Green Korea United to foster a culture of using reusable delivery and packaging food containers.

Reusable delivery and packaging food containers refer to general dishware that is washed and reused, as opposed to disposable food containers.

On the 25th, Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung signed a business agreement on this matter at the Gyeonggi Provincial Office with Minister of Environment Han Jeong-ae, Hwaseong Mayor Seo Cheol-mo, CEO of Gyeonggi Province Corporation Lee Seok-hoon, Chairman of the Korea Foodservice Industry Association Southern Gyeonggi Branch Bang Dae-hwan, and Green Korea United representative Yoon Jeong-sook.

Governor Lee said, "With the spread of non-face-to-face consumption culture due to COVID-19, the consumption of delivery food has exploded, but food packaging containers are difficult to recycle," adding, "It is the public duty to start with what we can do to reduce the use of disposable products."

He continued, "I believe the change that started in Gyeonggi Province will spread to the private sector and achieve great results," adding, "There is an Indian proverb that says the nature we face now is not inherited from our ancestors but borrowed from our descendants. Let us all join forces so that this place where our descendants will live does not become sick with waste."

This agreement was planned to promote the expansion of reusable delivery and packaging food container use through cooperation among each organization, aiming to reduce disposable plastic container waste that has surged due to the spread of non-face-to-face consumption culture.

To this end, Gyeonggi Province will conduct a pilot project allowing merchants affiliated with the public delivery platform 'Baedal Teukgeup'?the first delivery app in the province?to use reusable containers.

Gyeonggi Province established a plan for using reusable containers linked to the public delivery platform in April and will start the pilot project next month in Hwaseong Dongtan 1 and 2 New Towns.

The biggest issue with using reusable containers is the manpower and time required for collection and washing after use. To address this, the pilot project will provide reusable container collection and washing services to participating merchants until the end of the year.

This service involves consumers placing the reusable containers used for delivery outside after eating, after which a specialized company collects, hygienically washes, and supplies them back to the restaurants.

Gyeonggi Province plans to review expanding the project area based on the pilot project results and will propose national funding support and institutional improvements to the Ministry of Environment.

Gyeonggi Province Corporation announced that, as of today, 141 merchants have completed applications for the pilot project targeting Baedal Teukgeup affiliated stores.

According to the agreement, Gyeonggi Province will actively promote policies to expand the use of reusable delivery and packaging food containers and will oversee and support the progress as the lead organization. The Ministry of Environment will provide administrative and institutional support; Hwaseong City will handle project promotion and on-site support; Gyeonggi Province Corporation will operate the reusable container service linked to Baedal Teukgeup; the Korea Foodservice Industry Association will expand participation among restaurants; and Green Korea United will be responsible for joint policy development and promotion.