[Seoul District News] Mapo-gu Launches 'Single-Use Item Zero Office' Campaign Banning Single-Use Items in Government Buildings from December 5, with District Office Staff Leading by Example to Promote Proper Recycling Culture...
Gwanak-gu Showcases Systematic Cleaning Administration Innovation for 'Waste Reduction and Recycling Activation'... [Photo] Jung-gu, Seoul, Holds Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on the Evening of the 8th... Gangbuk-gu Holds Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on the 8th
[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Mapo-gu (Mayor Park Gang-su) has embarked on creating a ‘Disposable-Free Government Building’ to establish a culture of recycling and activate resource circulation.
To this end, starting from December 5, the district has been conducting a campaign to restrict the use of disposable cups within the government building spaces and encourage the use of personal tumblers and reusable cups.
Additionally, to ensure that recyclable waste, which has been carelessly discarded in the building, is properly separated and disposed of, ‘separation bins’ have been installed by department to encourage employee participation.
Furthermore, ‘tumbler bags’ to promote tumbler use and ‘separation collection nets’ to induce proper waste separation have been produced and distributed to all employees and departments, emphasizing active participation.
This ‘Disposable-Free Government Building’ campaign was prepared for public institutions to take the lead in changing perceptions about disposable products and achieving waste reduction results. Going forward, the district plans to conduct various campaigns to share the necessity of regulating disposable product use with residents and encourage practical implementation.
Moreover, to realize the cancellation of the Mapo-gu site selection for the Seoul Metropolitan Resource Recovery Facility, the district plans to actively promote resource recycling and circulation movements as alternatives to waste issues and incinerator construction.
Park Gang-su, Mayor of Mapo-gu, stated, “To fundamentally solve the waste problem, it is important to establish a lifestyle culture that does not use disposable products. I hope that district employees will take the lead in suppressing disposable product use and that proper waste separation and recycling habits will spread as a culture in the local community.”
Gwanak-gu (Mayor Park Jun-hee) is promoting various projects to reduce household waste and increase recycling rates amid the explosive increase in waste due to changes in contactless consumption patterns caused by the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, which has become a social issue.
First, the ‘Smart Recycling Collection Box’ combines Internet of Things (IoT) technology, allowing residents to earn points as rewards when they dispose of transparent PET bottles and other recyclables in the collection boxes, receiving high public response.
The ‘Smart Recycling Collection Box’ is easy to use and offers rewards in cash or mobile coupons, resulting in a 48% increase in resident usage compared to last year. Recycling rates have also increased annually, with about 35.1 tons of high-quality cans and transparent PET bottles recycled this year.
The district introduced the smart recycling collection boxes in 2019 and completed installation of one unit in each of the 21 neighborhoods by October this year.
To respond to the rapid increase in discarded ice packs due to the spread of delivery culture, the district is also conducting an ‘Ice Pack Recycling Project.’ Currently, 10 ice pack collection boxes are in operation, and collected ice packs are cleaned and disinfected before being provided free of charge to local food manufacturers and restaurants in need.
The district is expanding the ‘Eco Tomorrow’ transparent PET bottle deposit system, operated together with the ‘Resource Circulation Club,’ to all 21 neighborhoods this year to improve the culture of waste separation. Every Thursday, residents can exchange 10 transparent PET bottles (2L size) for one 10L volume-based waste bag at designated collection points.
Additionally, the district upgraded the facilities and offices within the recycling sorting center damaged by fire in April and flooding in August, efficiently processing recyclable waste. Notably, in line with the ongoing ‘Recyclable Waste Separation Day System,’ Gwanak-gu has taken the lead among Seoul’s autonomous districts by installing a ‘transparent PET bottle dedicated compactor’ in the recycling sorting center to recover high-quality transparent PET bottle resources.
A district official said, “We expect that by promoting various projects that allow anyone to easily participate in resource recycling activities, we will take a step further in improving urban landscapes and practicing carbon neutrality. We will continue to do our best to create a sustainable resource circulation city, Gwanak, by communicating with residents.”
Jung-gu, Seoul (Mayor Kim Gil-seong) installed a large Christmas tree and brightly lit it at Jung-gu Office Plaza at 6:30 p.m. on the 8th, three weeks before Christmas.
Before the lighting ceremony, Mayor Kim Gil-seong and about 20 executives of the Parish Council held a worship service celebrating the upcoming Christmas, praying that the Christmas lights would become a beacon conveying warm care and love to marginalized neighbors. Following this, the Salvation Army Bryce Band’s congratulatory performance resonated, spreading a warm Christmas atmosphere to passersby.
Mayor Kim Gil-seong said, “I hope the sparkling lights in the plaza become a light of hope warming the hearts of passersby and bring abundant blessings to Jung-gu residents.”
The 6-meter-tall Christmas tree will decorate Jung-gu Office Plaza with lights for about 30 days until January 6 of next year.
Gangbuk-gu (Mayor Lee Soon-hee) held the ‘2022 Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony’ at the district office plaza on the 8th.
The district installed a Christmas tree to provide visitors to the district office with a visual attraction and deliver a warm message of hope.
The 3.5-meter-tall tree, decorated with various ornaments and brightly shining LED lights, created a year-end atmosphere, enhanced by the flower bed next to the tree.
The Christmas tree will brightly illuminate the district office plaza from that day until January 31 of next year.
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