"300 Tons of Waste Reduction Possible"... Gangbuk-gu Inspected Large Business Sites

Inspection of Emissions and Emission Practices at 36 Large Local Sites
In Preparation for the Ban on Direct Landfilling of Waste at Sudogwon Landfill Site

View of Gangbuk District Office.

Gangbuk-gu, Seoul (Mayor Lee Soon-hee) announced on the 18th that it has conducted intensive guidance on business waste emitter registration and on-site inspections of generated waste over the past three months, resulting in an annual waste reduction effect of more than 300 tons.

This inspection was carried out to prevent a waste crisis following the ban on direct landfill of waste at the metropolitan landfill site starting in 2026. The aim is to reduce the burden on public waste treatment facilities through self-treatment or consignment treatment of business waste and to establish the principle of emitter responsibility.

The district conducted on-site inspections at a total of 36 locations, including 17 air emission facilities and 15 medical institutions. As a result, seven locations that exceeded the daily average emission standard were administratively guided to register as business waste emitters, and medical institutions disposing of disposable diapers in volume-based waste bags were advised to consign diaper waste as business waste.

Based on the results of this on-site inspection, the district expects to reduce the amount of waste brought to public treatment facilities by more than 300 tons annually. Going forward, the district plans to continue on-site inspections of registered businesses and unregistered non-emission facilities through regular visits.

The obligation to register as a business waste emitter applies to businesses that emit 300 kg or more of waste per day (or 100 kg or more per day for facilities that install and operate emission equipment). Such businesses must register as emitters and then handle the generated waste through self-consignment to private treatment operators.

Mayor Lee Soon-hee stated, "We plan to thoroughly prepare for the ban on direct landfill at the metropolitan landfill site by establishing self-treatment of business waste and actively promote the reduction of household waste. We hope residents will show interest and actively participate in Gangbuk-gu’s proactive household waste reduction initiatives."