Recyclables as Daily Necessities... 'Resource Circulation Campaign' with Residents Draws Attention

Gwangju Nam-gu Wolsan 4-dong Conducts '3-3 Resource Circulation' Campaign Twice a Month

Contributing to Efficient Recycling of Waste Resources and Realization of a Carbon Neutral Society

On the morning of the 9th, the '3-3 Resource Circulation (3 Re-Life)' event was held in front of the Wolsan 4-dong Administrative Welfare Center in Nam-gu, Gwangju, where residents handed over recyclables and received daily necessities.
[Photo by Min Hyun-gi]

"I just collected recyclable waste at home thinking about the environment and submitted it, but they exchanged it for daily necessities, so I feel a sense of accomplishment, and the streets are cleaner, which makes me proud."

On December 10, 2020, the Government of the Republic of Korea declared the ‘2050 Carbon Neutral Vision.’ ‘Carbon neutrality’ means reducing greenhouse gases emitted from fossil fuel use and other sources, and absorbing or removing the inevitably emitted greenhouse gases through forests, wetlands, etc., so that the net emissions become ‘0.’

Accordingly, ‘carbon neutrality’ for environmental protection has recently become a social issue, and changes are occurring in various fields. There is an administrative welfare center that is leading environmental protection by creating local campaigns with residents and communicating with them, attracting attention.

On the morning of the 9th, a day before the public institution’s ‘Zero Waste Day,’ a long line of citizens who brought recyclable waste formed in front of the Wolsan 4-dong Administrative Welfare Center in Nam-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City. As each person handed over their collected recyclable waste and received daily necessities, smiles never left the citizens’ faces.

This was during a resource circulation event hosted by Nam-gu Wolsan 4-dong and the Wolsan 4-dong Volunteer Camp. Since last month, residents of Wolsan 4-dong have been carrying out the ‘3-3 Resource Circulation (3 Re-lives)’ campaign, gathering recyclable waste in front of the dong administrative welfare center on the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month.

‘3-3’ means a life practicing three ‘re’s for protecting the global environment: ‘rethink,’ ‘reuse,’ and ‘recycle.’ The Nam-gu Volunteer Center and Wolsan 4-dong Administrative Welfare Center collaborated to efficiently recycle waste resources and realize a carbon-neutral society. When citizens bring transparent PET bottles, beverage cans, milk cartons, used batteries, etc., they exchange them for daily necessities such as government-issued bags, toilet paper, and new batteries.

Accordingly, citizens eagerly collected recyclable waste until the event day to exchange them for daily necessities.

To participate in the event, Kim Tae-sun (70) submitted 1,720 milk cartons collected over about six months since last winter and received 98 rolls of toilet paper.

Kim said, "I washed, dried, and stored the milk cartons I drank throughout the winter to participate in the resource circulation event and submitted them all at once. Although I did not do it expecting a reward, I feel good because I can get daily necessities that help me, who has no income," smiling.

There was also a citizen who collected beverage cans discarded on the roadside to participate in the event. Jeong Bok-seon (68) collected recyclable waste through ‘plogging’ while taking walks in the neighborhood. Plogging is an exercise that involves picking up trash while jogging. Jeong submitted about 130 cans collected this way and received four 10ℓ government-issued bags.

Jeong said, "Recently, my interest in environmental issues has grown, and I feel very proud to have my small environmental activities recognized."

According to the Wolsan 4-dong Administrative Welfare Center, from May to November last year, a total of 11 resource circulation events were held, collecting 16,471 transparent PET bottles, 5,817 beverage cans, 14,958 milk cartons, and 4,211 used batteries.

On average, 37,628 recyclable waste items were collected per event. As the event became more well-known, the satisfaction of Wolsan 4-dong residents also appeared to be high.

Kang Soon-im (55), a resident of Wolsan 4-dong, said, "As residents participate in environmental campaigns together, the recyclable waste visible on the streets has noticeably decreased. I hope there will be more events where residents and administration can work together in the future."

Jeong Young-du, head of Wolsan 4-dong, said, "Because of the strong participation of residents, we were able to hold a meaningful event. We will continue to strive to further activate resource circulation campaigns together with residents."