Pohang-si, Gyeongbuk Launches 'Jigu Workshop Project Group' to Promote Resource Circulation Practices

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Dongguk Lee] On the 20th, Pohang City in Gyeongbuk launched the public interest self-support work group ‘Jigu Gongbang’ to create jobs for low-income groups and practice resource circulation.

On the 20th, Pohang City in Gyeongbuk launched the public interest self-support work group "Jigu Workshop" to create jobs for low-income groups and promote resource circulation practices.

The event, hosted by the Pohang Nanum Regional Self-Support Center, was attended by Pohang Mayor Lee Kang-deok, Pohang city council members, the head of the Gyeongbuk Regional Self-Support Center, and the head of the Volunteer Center. They also held a ‘Pohang Citizens’ Action Pledge’ for zero waste and a signing ceremony for carbon neutrality practice.

The Jigu Gongbang work group is a project that combines Pohang’s ‘zero waste’ (eliminating waste), social value realization linked with jobs for low-income groups, and the creation of self-support jobs.

‘Jigu Gongbang,’ which temporarily opened in April in Cheongnim-dong, Nam-gu, Pohang, installed a total of 300 ice pack and plastic collection bins at 60 apartment complexes with more than 300 households and 10 administrative welfare centers. The collected ice packs go through sorting, washing, sterilizing, and drying processes at the self-support workplace and are supplied free of charge to traditional markets, food and manufacturing companies, and distribution companies.

In addition, plastic and Hetbahn containers are collected, washed, crushed, and reused. Coffee grounds are collected from large coffee specialty stores, dried, and then processed into coffee clay powder, which is recycled into pencils, colored pencils, flowerpots, and decorative bricks.

In the future, a zero waste shop will be established within the self-support workplace to sell recycled products and eco-friendly goods. A ‘refill station’ will also be operated where customers can bring containers from home and purchase detergents and shampoos in desired quantities.

Through this project, the city aims to reduce 1,200 kg of waste per day and create jobs for about 20 vulnerable people by recycling the waste.

Pohang Mayor Lee Kang-deok said, “Carbon neutrality and jobs for low-income groups are both equally important. This project will help protect the environment by recycling discarded waste resources and support the foundation for self-support by creating jobs for low-income groups through public-private cooperation.”