Jeju Samdasoo Signs Resource Circulation Agreement with Ministry of Environment and Korea Expressway Corporation

'Hyoo (休)-Cycle PET Bottle Collection System Pilot Project' Business Agreement Ceremony. Photo by Jeju Development Corporation

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Development Corporation announced on the 24th that it will participate in the 'Hyu(休)-Cycle PET Bottle Collection System Pilot Project,' which recycles transparent PET bottles discharged from highway rest areas nationwide.

The Jeju Development Corporation signed a business agreement for this pilot project the day before at Jukjeon Rest Area with the Ministry of Environment, Korea Expressway Corporation, SK Geo Centric, and Korea Recycling Resource Distribution Support Center. 'Hyu Cycle' is a campaign to promote proper separation and recycling of waste resources discharged at rest areas. According to this multilateral agreement, the five institutions and companies will systematically manage the entire process from collection to recycling to regenerate waste PET bottles into high-quality recycled raw materials. The cooperation includes ▲installation of customer-participation PET bottle unmanned collection machines ▲promotion activities for resource recycling targeting rest area users and the general public.

The pilot project will be conducted at 18 rest areas nationwide, including Jukjeon (Seoul direction), Gyeongju (Busan direction), and Cheonan Samgeori (Seoul direction) rest areas. When PET bottles are inserted into the AI unmanned collection machines installed at rest areas, the device automatically sorts items with high recycling quality. The sorted PET bottles are separately transported to waste sorting facilities. Afterwards, through the recycling line, they are reborn as raw materials that can be regenerated into fibers, food containers, and more.

Events encouraging active participation from users will also be held. By inserting PET bottles into the AI unmanned collection machines at rest areas and accumulating points, participants can join events to receive eco-friendly picnic sets made from recycled Jeju Samdasoo PET bottles.

Kim Jeong-hak, President of Jeju Development Corporation, said, "Ahead of the summer vacation season when rest area users increase, we joined this agreement to promote resource circulation methods that can be easily practiced outdoors." He added, "Jeju Samdasoo will not only gradually reduce plastic usage in the production process but also actively participate in PET bottle collection and recycling."