Campus Struggling with Waste After Endemic
Increase in Disposable Containers and Lack of Recycling Bins
75% of Universities Lack Food Waste Collection Bins
As COVID-19 transitions to an endemic phase, university campuses have regained vitality after a long time, but they are suffering from the problem of overflowing trash on campus.
This is interpreted as a result of a combination of factors, including increased use of delivery food containers and disposable products, and the absence of recycling bins on campus.
Unauthorized disposal of food waste makes even restrooms unusable
On the 17th, an anonymous university community called 'Everytime' posted a photo with the title "The current state of the College of Education trash cans this weekend."
The photo shows various trash piled up in and around the trash cans.
It also shows improper sorting of waste, such as recyclable trash being thrown into general trash bins.
Students who saw this reacted with comments like "Are these people supposed to be teaching kids?", "Legendary," and "Thanks to them, cafes near the school won't go out of business."
In response, the student council of the College of Education at the school issued an urgent notice to students regarding trash disposal and restroom use.
The student council stated, "Due to the overflowing trash, a foul odor has developed in the College of Education building, and unauthorized disposal of food waste has clogged the septic tank, making all restrooms in the College of Education building unusable."
They also urged, "Please abandon the careless thought of 'It’s okay if it’s just me.'"
Disposable product use has increased, but recycling bins are insufficient
One of the main causes of this problem on campus is the lack of properly installed recycling bins.
A Yonhap News survey conducted last year on 36 comprehensive universities in Seoul found that 75% of campuses did not have food waste bins.
Since it is difficult to remove food residue from containers with food inside, and it is impossible to separate only the containers for recycling, this environment inevitably causes problems. Some students throwing both food waste and containers into general trash bins also contributes to overflowing trash cans.
Additionally, the increase in the use of delivery containers and disposable cups has generated an amount of trash that campus cleaning workers find difficult to manage.
Universities and Seoul City: "Let's use reusable cups... Trash OUT"
To solve the trash disposal problem, some universities have decided to participate in Seoul City's 'Zero Campus' project.
Started last year, 'Zero Campus' is an eco-friendly campus campaign that uses reusable cups instead of disposable cups and packages and delivers food using reusable containers.
Some universities, with support from Seoul City, have conducted campaigns distributing reusable cups during festival periods.
Seoul City stated, "We hope that university participation in 'Zero Campus' will raise public awareness of waste issues in university living areas and spread a zero waste culture."
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