Gyeonggi Province has selected Bucheon City, Ansan City, Gwangmyeong City, and Yangpyeong County as participants in the ‘Disposable Products-Free Gyeonggi Special Zone Creation Project.’
Gyeonggi Province announced on the 2nd that it designated five locations in four cities/counties as disposable products-free Gyeonggi special zones, where both disposable product providers and consumers are expected to reduce disposable waste together. These locations are ▲Bucheon university campuses ▲Ansan Saemgollo Food Alley ▲Gwangmyeong Muigong and Gwangmyeong 4-way intersection ▲Yangpyeong Yongdam district (Semiwon tourist site).
The four cities/counties selected as disposable products-free Gyeonggi special zones will receive a total project budget of 3 billion KRW over three years from this year through 2026. The budget will be used to support reusable cups at coffee shops, restaurants, funeral halls, movie theaters, sports facilities, and other multi-use facilities, as well as festivals and events. It will also be used to establish reusable container rental and return facilities and to cover the cost of installing washing machines.
Looking at the characteristics of each zone, Bucheon City plans to form university student and resident supporters centered around four university campuses: Catholic University, Bucheon University, Seoul Theological University, and Yuhan University, to spread a culture of refraining from using disposable products. Currently, there are a total of 148 cafes within and near these four universities.
Ansan City will promote the creation of a disposable products-free street by establishing a cooperative system with the Saemgollo Food Alley merchants’ association and residents, which is a multicultural street. There are currently 270 stores operating in this area.
Gwangmyeong City will install reusable container infrastructure in two food culture streets, Muigong and Gwangmyeong 4-way intersection, and hold events such as Disposable Products ZERO Day. There are currently 182 restaurants and 10 cafes operating in these areas.
Yangpyeong County plans to drastically reduce disposable products centered around the Semiwon tourist site and foster an eco-friendly carbon-neutral themed tourist district. There are currently 40 restaurants and 30 cafes, one local food store, and one funeral hall operating in this area.
Cha Seong-su, Director of the Climate Environment and Energy Bureau of Gyeonggi Province, said, "Disposable waste reduction will be achieved in various fields such as university campuses, food streets, and tourist sites designated as special zones," adding, "We hope that a Gyeonggi-led carbon reduction model will be established through the participation of many residents."
Meanwhile, since January, Gyeonggi Province has been implementing a comprehensive plan to reduce disposable product use, including expanding the ban on disposable product use from the provincial government office to all public facilities.
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