Rest Areas Turning into Chaos
Rest areas are suffering from household waste due to people brazenly dumping large amounts of trash brought from home without permission.
On the 10th, a post titled "Situation at Jangyu Rest Area at 9:20 AM on April 10, 2023" was uploaded on an online community, Bobae Dream.
The author, Mr. A, posted a photo of a trash bin located at Jangyu Rest Area in Gimhae-si, Gyeongnam (Busan direction), pointing out, "It's really bad."
Netizens who saw the post criticized, saying, "Many people come to dispose of household trash on their way to work," and "It is often piled up like that there," adding, "I want to ask where they threw away their conscience." [Photo by BobaeDream]
According to the photo shared by the author, a warning banner stating "Illegal dumping of externally brought-in waste will be reported" is seen hanging next to the overflowing trash bin.
Netizens who saw the post criticized, saying, "Many people come to throw away household waste on their way to work," "It is often piled up like that there," and "I want to ask where their conscience was thrown away."
On the 10th, an online community BobaeDream posted a message titled "Situation at Jangyu Rest Area at 9:20 AM on April 10, 2023." [Photo by BobaeDream]
Regarding this, a representative of Jangyu Rest Area told CBS No Cut News in a phone interview that "the problem of illegal dumping of household waste is serious."
The representative added, "It's not just today; every day, trash piles up like a mountain. We stand guard by the trash bins until late at night, but people recklessly dump their waste and leave," pointing out the issue.
When trying to educate them, some people respond with abusive language, saying, "I paid the toll fee to come here, and now you won't even let me throw away my trash," the representative explained the situation.
When asked whether actual legal action is taken as stated on the warning banner, they replied, "It is difficult to check all the CCTV footage and file reports," adding, "We educate on-site, but the problem is not resolved."
Not only Jangyu Rest Area but other rest areas are also suffering from illegal waste
In November of last year, three young men got out of a white SUV (sports utility vehicle) stopped in a waste separation area and illegally dumped trash filling the trunk. [Photo by Han Moon-cheol TV]
Illegal dumping of waste is not only a problem at Jangyu Rest Area. Many rest areas are already suffering from this issue. Last November, a similar incident occurred at Haman Rest Area in Gyeongnam, which lawyer Han Moon-chul introduced through a YouTube video.
The video shows three young men getting out of a white SUV (sports utility vehicle) stopped at the waste separation area and illegally dumping trash filling the trunk.
Although a sign above the trash bin read "No external waste allowed," they dumped bulky waste and left.
At that time, the video tipster reported the incident to Haman County, but the response was, "It has been confirmed that a large amount of waste was dumped from the vehicle you reported, but since it was disposed of in the designated trash bin, it is difficult to consider it a violation of the Waste Management Act (illegal dumping)." This response sparked public outrage. As the controversy grew, the Ministry of Environment concluded that it was indeed "illegal dumping."
Meanwhile, Article 8, Paragraph 1 of the Waste Management Act states, "No one shall dispose of household waste without following the methods designated by the managers of parks, roads, and other facilities."
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