"Let's Reduce Disposable Products"... Incheon City Expands Sharing of Reusable Containers at Baseball Stadiums and Cafes

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] Incheon City, which promotes itself as an "Environmental Special City," is actively working to reduce waste by expanding the use of reusable containers instead of disposable products at places such as baseball stadiums and cafes.

The city is first launching the "Ssticket Day" campaign in collaboration with the local baseball team SSG Landers to encourage the use of reusable containers. "Ssticket" is a waste etiquette movement promoted by Incheon City, aimed at practicing resource circulation by "disposing of waste properly and reducing waste."

Incheon City and SSG Landers have designated July 1 as "Ssticket Day," a day to practice using reusable containers, and will promote the campaign to reduce the use of disposable products consumed at the baseball stadium and encourage the use of reusable containers.

Until the 20th of this month, those who complete the reusable container usage mission and verify it on SNS will be entered into a draw to receive baseball game tickets for up to 500 people (2 tickets per person) for the game held on the 1st of next month. The event can be participated in through the city's resource circulation SNS channels.

Also, on Ssticket Day, July 1, spectators who bring reusable containers will be given food and beverage discount coupons usable inside the stadium. During the game, various events including a resource circulation quiz time will be held via the electronic scoreboard, and a special ceremonial first pitch to commemorate Ssticket Day is also planned.

A city official said, "This campaign will provide citizens with a positive perception and experience of using reusable containers," adding, "We hope to foster a culture of using reusable containers instead of indiscriminate disposable products inside the baseball stadium."

Incheon City is also conducting a pilot project until the end of October to introduce ICT (Information and Communication Technology)-based unmanned reusable cup collection machines targeting cafes around City Hall and the Incheon Culture & Arts Center area.

Customers purchasing drinks at eco-friendly stores without disposable cups can pay a deposit of 1,000 won, receive their drink in a reusable cup, freely use it inside and outside the store, and then return the cup to the unmanned reusable cup return machine to get their deposit refunded.

The city has named the approximately 30 cafes participating in this project "e-Eum Cafe." Inspired by the reusable cup brand "Incheon e-Eum Cup" used in the first phase of the project, the name also reflects the hope that the spirit of caring for Incheon's environment will connect generations.

Previously, to reduce the use of takeout cups, the city had conducted the "Incheon e-Eum Cup (Reusable Cup) Sharing Phase 1 Pilot Project" targeting City Hall employees since December last year.

At 21 cafes around City Hall, when ordering takeout drinks, employees used the reusable cup "Incheon e-Eum Cup" provided by the city to the cafes instead of disposable cups, and returned the used cups to collection boxes inside City Hall. Over about four months, this resulted in a reduction of 16,962 disposable cups (237 kg of household waste).