Significant Reduction in Waste at Maehwa Festival Through Single-Use Item Ban
Plan to Wash and Reuse Multi-Use Containers at Festival Venue
Gwangyang City in Jeollanam-do announced that the 23rd Gwangyang Jeoneo Festival, held at Mangdeok Port from August 23 to 25, will be a "single-use product-free festival," just like the Gwangyang Maehwa Festival held in March.
In March, Gwangyang City implemented a single-use product-free festival during the Maehwa Festival, reducing the amount of waste generated on the first weekend of the festival from 5,400 kg in 2023 to 2,020 kg, cutting waste generation by 63%.
Not only was there a remarkable reduction in total waste at that time, but visitors responded positively to the use of reusable containers, and restaurants also welcomed the reduced costs of purchasing single-use products.
Accordingly, Gwangyang City has planned and is promoting the 23rd Gwangyang Jeoneo Festival as a single-use product-free festival.
At the festival, food will be served using reusable plates, bowls, spoons, and cups, and reusable cups will also be provided at the plum highball experience, cafe booths (including food trucks), and tasting booths. Although single-use products are usually used for packaging drinks and food, reusable containers will be used without exception.
Reusable containers returned at the reusable container booth near the festival entrance and next to the grilled Jeoneo experience site will be transported to a washing station, where they will be cleaned according to reusable container washing standards and then redistributed.
To prevent confusion among restaurant businesses, Gwangyang City has already informed 14 vendors, including food sales, experience booths, and food trucks, about the ban on single-use products, and will continue efforts to eradicate single-use product use during the festival.
An official from Gwangyang City's Resource Circulation Division said, "At the last Maehwa Festival, we were able to drastically reduce waste by eradicating the use of single-use products," adding, "The 23rd Gwangyang Jeoneo Festival will also use reusable containers to eliminate resource waste, reduce environmental pollution, and achieve carbon neutrality, so we hope citizens will actively participate."
Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seon-sik hss79@asiae.co.kr
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