Resource Circulation Through Small Daily Practices

Seocho-gu Elementary, Middle, and High Schools, Companies, and Volunteer Organizations Launch 'Environmental Campaign' Targeting Over 4,000 Participants

Elementary School Students' Participation in Campaign Last Year

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Seocho-gu announced that on June 5th, in celebration of ‘World Environment Day,’ it is conducting a ‘Climate Crisis Response Participation Campaign’ with about 4,000 residents including elementary, middle, and high schools, companies, and volunteer camps.

Collaborating with the Seocho-gu Volunteer Center, this campaign involving about 4,000 residents was planned to raise awareness about the seriousness of discarded plastic waste and to inform that it is easy to participate in ‘carbon neutrality’ through small daily practices.

The campaign’s slogan is ‘Save(Collect) the Plastic, Save the Earth,’ which means ‘Let’s save the Earth facing the climate crisis by increasing the recycling rate through proper plastic disposal.’

Residents participating in this campaign receive resource circulation education organized by the Seocho-gu Volunteer Center and then properly separate and dispose of plastic at home for a certain period. They bring the collected plastic to designated locations such as schools and community service centers assigned to each participant. The collected plastic is picked up by the Cleaning Administration Department and provided to related companies for the production of eco-friendly clothing.

Some of the plastic will also be recycled into ‘upcycling benches’ made by mixing plastic and concrete. Additionally, it will be recycled into whistles provided to participants. Through this, residents can realize the seriousness of plastic waste and the necessity of actions for recycling.

The district plans to continue recruiting participants for the ‘Climate Crisis Response Citizen Participation Campaign’ until August. Anyone including residents, schools, companies, and volunteer organizations can participate.

Meanwhile, last year, the district conducted a pilot campaign targeting about 2,000 students from seven elementary schools in the area, receiving high responses. Eco-friendly clothing was produced using 41,190 plastic bottle caps and 7,390 transparent PET bottles collected directly by elementary students, and ‘upcycling benches’ were also made and provided to two schools including Yangjae Elementary School.

Son Yong-jun, Head of the Autonomous Administration Division, said, “Through this campaign, we hope residents will recognize the importance of sustainable living by experiencing proper plastic separation and disposal firsthand and continue steady practices for environmental protection.”