Mayor Park Gangsu of Mapo-gu and Resident Representatives Deliver Petition in Person, Expressing Strong Opposition to Additional Incineration Plant
Urge Seoul City to Halt Appeal Against Lawsuit Requesting Cancellation of the Notice on the Metropolitan Resource Recovery Facility Location
Mapo-gu (Mayor Park Gang-su) will submit a petition signed by more than 38,000 residents opposing Seoul City's unilateral plan to build an additional incineration plant to the Seoul High Court and Seoul City on March 5.
On the day, Mayor Park Gang-su of Mapo-gu and about 20 resident representatives will visit the Seoul High Court and Seoul City Hall in person to express the strong will of Mapo-gu and its residents to cancel the plan for the additional incineration plant.
Furthermore, they plan to strongly urge Seoul City to immediately halt its appeal against the court ruling in favor of Mapo-gu residents in the lawsuit requesting the cancellation of the "Notice of Decision on the Location of the Metropolitan Resource Recovery Facility."
Since 2005, a resource recovery facility with a capacity of 750 tons has been operating in Mapo-gu. For over 20 years, residents have endured damages caused by the resource recovery facility.
Nevertheless, Seoul City announced plans to build a metropolitan resource recovery facility with a capacity of 1,000 tons in Sangam-dong without gathering residents' opinions, citing preparation for the landfill ban in 2026, ruthlessly trampling on the survival and property rights of Mapo-gu residents and forcing sacrifices.
In response, Mapo-gu has continuously expressed opposition to the additional incineration plant by proposing fundamental solutions to reduce waste incineration, such as its own recycling system called "Incineration Zero Store," coffee grounds collection, and recycling of waste fabric from sewn products, opposing Seoul City's unilateral and uncommunicative administration.
Also, in the resident signature campaign conducted by Mapo-gu to gather community opinions, more than 38,000 residents voluntarily participated, clearly expressing their opposition to the additional incineration plant.
A resident of Sangam-dong who participated in the petition stated, "Currently, our health and daily life are threatened by incineration alone, and building another incineration plant is a behavior that completely disregards Mapo-gu residents," and expressed strong opposition, saying, "Seoul City should focus on practical solutions to the waste problem, not building an additional incineration plant."
Despite Mapo-gu's reasonable alternative proposals and the strong opposition of Mapo-gu residents, Seoul City is currently sticking to its unilateral and unreasonable decision on the incineration plant location.
Mapo-gu plans to strengthen cooperation with its residents through the submission of the petition and will persistently block the additional incineration plant construction, which is fraught with procedural defects and unfairness.
Mayor Park Gang-su of Mapo-gu emphasized, "This resident signature campaign is not just a simple opposition to the additional incineration plant but a desperate cry reflecting the reality faced by residents," and added, "Seoul City must seriously consider the voices of the residents and immediately withdraw the plan to build an additional incineration plant." He further stated, "Mapo-gu will definitely achieve the cancellation of the additional incineration plant and put an end to the tears of Mapo-gu residents that have lasted for over 20 years."
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