National Association of Major City Mayors Visits Austria Eco-Friendly Incineration Plant

A Trade Agreement Signed Between the World Korean Trade Association and Support for SMEs and Youth

The group of mayors belonging to the National Association of Major City Mayors (Chairman Lee Sang-il, Mayor of Yongin) visited Austria on the 27th and 28th (local time) to tour eco-friendly waste incineration plants and carbon-neutral research facilities.

Yongin City in Gyeonggi Province announced that the mayoral delegation of the Major City Mayors Association, currently visiting Austria to study Europe’s eco-friendly energy policies, visited the general waste incineration plant 'Spittelau' in Vienna, Austria, and the carbon-neutral research facility of the 'Vienna Energy Plant,' which researches clean energy production through waste treatment next to a medical waste and other specific waste incineration plant.

Lee Sang-il, Mayor of Yongin, and a delegation of mayors belonging to the National Association of Large City Mayors are receiving an explanation about the thermochemical gasification pilot plant from a senior researcher at 'Waste 2 Value' in Vienna, Austria.
[Photo by Yongin City]

The mayors participating in this visit were Lee Sang-il, Mayor of Yongin; Lee Dong-hwan, Mayor of Goyang; Shin Sang-jin, Mayor of Seongnam; Joo Kwang-deok, Mayor of Namyangju; Lee Kang-deok, Mayor of Pohang; and Kim Byung-soo, Mayor of Gimpo.

Established in 1971, the Spittelau incineration plant ceased operations in 1987 due to a fire but was transformed into a core facility for resource circulation by adopting innovative technologies. This incineration plant, which invested 1 billion euros (approximately 1.47 trillion KRW), not only emits no harmful substances due to the application of new technologies but also has a resource circulation system that supplies electricity and regional heating and cooling.

In particular, the incinerator’s chimney is known for its eco-friendly incineration capacity to the extent that Korean natural monument kestrels inhabit it. The incineration facility, designed with the participation of the famous architect Hundertwasser, is also a tourist attraction due to its beautiful exterior.

Vienna covers an area of 414 km², about 70% of Yongin City's area (591 km²), yet it has four incineration plants that process 3,000 tons of waste daily. Notably, all incineration plants are equipped with cutting-edge technology and operate eco-friendly without emitting pollutants such as dioxins.

The mayoral group also visited the 'Waste2Value Project,' a carbon-neutral research facility at the Vienna Energy Plant, where they observed the current status of upcycling technology research that produces hydrogen and synthesis gas by treating waste such as waste wood, waste paper, and sewage sludge using steam heat. Next to this facility are special waste treatment facilities for medical waste, the Pappenhau general waste incineration plant, and sewage treatment facilities.

A representative of the Vienna Energy Plant’s carbon-neutral facility stated, "We are preparing for the future by researching ways to obtain clean gases such as green hydrogen while eco-friendly treating general waste, special waste treatment facilities, and sewage sludge."

At the signing ceremony of the business agreement between the National Association of Large City Mayors and the World Korean Trade Association (World OKTA), Lee Kang-deok, Mayor of Pohang (from left), Joo Gwang-deok, Mayor of Namyangju, Shin Sang-jin, Mayor of Seongnam, Park Jong-beom, President of World OKTA, Lee Sang-il, Mayor of Yongin, Lee Dong-hwan, Mayor of Goyang, and Kim Byung-su, Mayor of Gimpo, are posing for a commemorative photo.
[Photo by Yongin City]

Meanwhile, the mayoral group signed a business agreement with Park Jong-beom, Chairman of Youngsan Group, a Korean trading company in Austria and Chairman of the World-OKTA (World Federation of Overseas Korean Traders Associations), the largest economic network of overseas Koreans, to support overseas employment for youth from 19 major cities belonging to the Major City Mayors Association and to assist small and medium-sized enterprises in trade activities and overseas expansion.

World-OKTA has over 7,000 CEOs and about 21,000 next-generation entrepreneurs as members across 152 chapters in 67 countries. According to the agreement, World-OKTA and Youngsan Group will support overseas employment for youth from the 19 major cities in the association and assist small and medium-sized enterprises in export-import and overseas expansion.

At the signing ceremony, Chairman Lee Sang-il said, "I am very pleased that World-OKTA has established a cooperative relationship to support small and medium-sized enterprises and youth in Korea’s major cities," and added, "Let us strive to achieve tangible results through close communication going forward."