Gwangjin-gu Provides 66 Senior Scrap Collectors with Equipment Including Carts

Gwangjin-gu (Mayor Kim Kyung-ho) is stepping up to support safety equipment to prevent accidents among elderly waste paper collectors and to assist their continuous collection activities.

According to the 2023 survey on elderly waste paper collectors conducted by the Korea Senior Human Resources Development Institute, 6% of the 42,000 elderly waste paper collectors in South Korea have experienced traffic accidents during their collection activities. They are highly vulnerable to safety risks. Moreover, they are exposed to accidents without protection due to aging, nighttime work, and walking on roadways.

Accordingly, the district will provide wheelbarrows and carriers to 66 waste paper collectors in the area. Instead of heavy steel wheelbarrows, 28 people will be given aluminum wheelbarrows weighing 20kg. These are designed for easy driving and operation, enhancing safety and convenience. They are equipped with puncture-resistant solid tires and horns on the handles. Reflectors are attached to ensure visibility during nighttime work. The distributed wheelbarrows will be systematically managed by assigning numbers.

Small carriers will also be provided. For 38 people who have difficulty using wheelbarrows due to frailty, disabilities, or storage issues, small carts measuring 45cm in width and 54cm in length will be produced and distributed.

After distributing the safety equipment, traffic safety education will be conducted to maximize the effectiveness of the project.

Kim Kyung-ho, Mayor of Gwangjin-gu, said, “This project was initiated to support the safe and healthy activities of elderly waste paper collectors who are exposed to safety accidents without protection. We will continue to implement customized policies that provide practical help to vulnerable groups in safety blind spots.”

Meanwhile, the district has been steadily providing support measures such as reflective safety vests, cold-weather jumpers, and gloves since last year, compensating for the difference in waste paper prices by about 150,000 KRW per month on average.