Installation of 'Smart Paper Pack Collection Boxes' in Seo-gu, Gwangju

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Shin Dong-ho] Seo-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City (Mayor Seo Dae-seok) has installed IoT-based ‘Smart Paper Pack Collection Bins’ at a total of six locations, including the district office building and Dong Administrative Welfare Centers, and has begun pilot operations.

According to Seo-gu on the 18th, paper packs are currently made from 100% imported natural pulp, and when used paper packs are separately collected and processed, they can be recycled into items such as napkins or premium tissues.

However, most are disposed of together with waste paper like newspapers and are recycled into low-value products or landfilled/incinerated.

To increase the collection rate of paper packs with high recycling value, Seo-gu installed six paper pack collection bins at the district office building and the administrative welfare centers of Yang 3-dong, Nongsung 1-dong, Hwajeong 2-dong, Sangmu 1-dong, and Dongcheon-dong.

By allowing residents to experience the paper pack collection bins in places with frequent foot traffic, the district aims to change awareness about recycling and simultaneously encourage voluntary participation in resource circulation among residents.

The method of using the paper pack collection bins is simple.

Install the ‘Today’s Recycling’ app on a smartphone, complete identity verification, scan the barcode on the paper pack, and deposit it into the collection bin to automatically accumulate points.

Ten points are earned per paper pack, and when 10 paper packs are deposited, they can be exchanged for one 200ml milk carton; when 200 paper packs are deposited, they can be exchanged for one pizza.

Paper packs include milk packs, soy milk packs, beverage packs, and soju packs, and must be emptied and dried before disposal.

Seo-gu expects that through the six collection bins, it will be possible to collect 240 to 360 kg of paper packs monthly, which is 10% of the total monthly paper pack collection volume in Seo-gu.

If the use of the collection bins is activated through this project, it is expected to maximize the promotional effect of proper paper pack separation and disposal and serve as an opportunity to change awareness that economic rewards can also be received through recycling.

Oh Il-seong, Director of the Cleaning Administration Division, said, “If 70,000 tons of paper packs discharged annually are properly recycled, it can produce 210 million rolls of 50m toilet paper, and one ton of paper packs has the effect of nurturing 20 pine trees.” He added, “We hope that the proper separation and disposal of paper packs will be the first step toward environmental protection and the establishment of a resource circulation culture.”

Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Shin Dong-ho sdhs6751@asiae.co.kr