Gwanak-gu, Exchange of Transparent PET Bottle Volume-Based Waste Bags

Operation of Transparent PET Bottle Deposit System Exchanging for Transparent PET Bottle Volume-Based Bags Every Thursday
Achieved Recycling of 71 Tons of Transparent PET Bottles Last Year... Scheduled Every Thursday from 2 PM to 4 PM from May 2 to November 28 (Not Operating in July and August)

Gwanak-gu (Mayor Park Jun-hee) will continue the transparent PET bottle reward system project, ‘Eco (eco) Tomorrow,’ this year as well.

‘Eco (eco) Tomorrow’ is a key project of the resident-led ‘Resource Circulation Club’ formed by Gwanak-gu, the first of its kind in Seoul in 2022. The event exchanges transparent PET bottles for designated waste bags every Thursday.

The project name ‘Eco (eco) Tomorrow’ embodies the slogan “Collecting transparent PET bottles to create a prosperous future for our Gwanak,” expressing Gwanak-gu’s hope for a better future and environment.

Through the transparent PET bottle reward system, the district aims not only to increase the collection rate but also to encourage residents’ voluntary participation in waste separation, ensuring the successful establishment of the “Transparent PET Bottle and Waste Vinyl Thursday Separation Day” system.

Thanks to the efforts of the district and residents, participation in the transparent PET bottle reward system has increased with each session. Last year, the average daily number of participants was 1,805, a 129% increase compared to the previous year, and the average daily collection volume reached 3 tons (71 tons annually), a 150% increase from the previous year.

Before the full-scale project launch this year, the district completed reorganization by recruiting 245 members of the Resource Circulation Club, composed of residents interested in resource circulation.

On April 19, a launch ceremony for the Resource Circulation Club will be held to ensure the successful implementation of the project. At this ceremony, the district will report last year’s achievements, present best practice cases, and award commendations to groups and individuals to boost members’ pride as resident leaders. Additionally, professional instructors will provide resource circulation education to enhance members’ capabilities.

This year, the transparent PET bottle reward system will be held every Thursday from 2 PM to 4 PM at 21 community service centers from May 2 to November 28 (not operating in July and August).

Notably, unlike last year, the exchange criteria have been simplified and rewards diversified: residents can choose between two types of designated waste bags (general 10ℓ or food waste 2ℓ) by bringing 30 PET bottles regardless of their size. The maximum daily exchange limit has also been increased from 4 to 5 bags to encourage greater participation through various changes.

Park Jun-hee, Mayor of Gwanak-gu, said, “The Resource Circulation Club plays a significant role in fostering residents’ responsibility for environmental protection and creating a sustainable environment for future generations. We will continue to do our best to raise awareness and encourage residents to practice resource circulation.”