Uijeongbu-si, Budget Savings and Climate Crisis Response through Wood Waste Recycling

Uijeongbu City Hall exterior.

Uijeongbu City, Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Kim Dong-geun) is improving the disposal method of woody waste generated during urban forest management to reduce budget costs and respond to the climate crisis.

Uijeongbu City announced on the 1st that it signed a business agreement with Hwacheon Energy Co., Ltd., an eco-friendly renewable energy company, on the 31st of last month regarding this matter.

According to the agreement, an average of 700 tons of woody waste generated annually from street trees, green belts, parks, rivers, and forests will be utilized as raw materials for power generation. The partner company will collect the woody waste free of charge and process it into wood chips for resource circulation.

In particular, this agreement focuses on increasing the utilization of unused forest bioenergy sources (biomass). Unused forest bioenergy sources (biomass) refer to woody by-products that do not meet the standard size of raw wood or are difficult to collect, making their use challenging.

Previously, a “waste disposal method” requiring significant manpower and budget was used to handle such woody by-products, but through this agreement, it will be improved to a “waste resource recovery method” by supplying them as raw materials for power generation and processing them free of charge.

The city expects to save about 76 million KRW annually in woody waste disposal costs through this initiative. Additionally, converting 700 tons of woody waste into wood chips is expected to reduce approximately 890 tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

Furthermore, it is anticipated to greatly contribute to realizing resource circulation and creating a sustainable urban environment.

A representative from Hwacheon Energy stated, “We will take the lead in converting woody waste into renewable energy resources in cooperation with Uijeongbu City.”

Mayor Kim Dong-geun said, “This agreement will greatly contribute to budget savings, resource circulation, and responding to the climate crisis.”