Cash Refund for PET Bottles After Label Removal
Selected for Ministry of Environment Contest... Receives 1.3 Billion KRW in Project Funding
A citizen of Uijeongbu is inserting a PET bottle into the 'AI Transparent PET Bottle Unmanned Collection Machine' that Uijeongbu City is piloting. Uijeongbu City, Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Kim Dong-geun) announced on the 19th that it will install 30 units of ‘AI Transparent PET Bottle Unmanned Collection Machines’ where citizens can practice recycling and receive cash rewards.
This installation project is being promoted with a total budget of 1.3 billion KRW, supported after being finally selected in June for the win-win cooperation demonstration program by the Korea Environment Corporation (an affiliate of the Ministry of Environment).
The installation locations include 10 community centers, 9 parks, 6 bus stop vicinities, and 5 other places such as the sports complex, totaling 30 sites, selected considering population density and foot traffic.
The installation work will be completed by the end of this month, and full operation is scheduled to begin in October.
The unmanned collection machine is a device where users can insert transparent PET bottles after removing the plastic label and receive cash in return. The machine operates like a vending machine: users enter their registered mobile phone number on the device’s display and insert PET bottles one by one, accumulating cash points.
By installing the smartphone app ‘Superbin,’ users can find the installation locations on a map and check in advance whether insertion is possible, minimizing unnecessary trips.
In particular, to provide economic benefits to participating citizens, 10 points are accumulated per transparent PET bottle, and when 2,000 points or more are collected, users can redeem cash through the smartphone app.
The unmanned collection machines eliminate the need for purchasing garbage bags (30 million KRW) and two collection staff members, which are currently required at community centers for recycling rewards, thus preventing unnecessary budget and administrative resource waste.
Analysis of usage from two unmanned collection machines installed this year (January to August) shows a total collection of 233,000 transparent PET bottles, a total cash conversion amount of 2.33 million KRW, and a cumulative user count of 2,153. If 30 more units are installed, the annual collection is expected to reach 5.8 million bottles, with 60 million KRW in cash refunded to citizens.
Han In-ho, Head of the Resource Circulation Division, said, “This project provides an opportunity to offer advanced (smart) services in line with the 4th Industrial Revolution and will enhance citizens’ awareness of recycling by fostering a consensus that ‘waste can also be money’ through thorough recycling separation.” He added, “We will continue to promote various projects with citizens to create a smart city, Uijeongbu.”
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