Reusable Containers Introduced at Over 40 Major Festivals
1.75 Billion Won in National Funding Allocated to Local Governments
Goal Set to Reduce More Than 340 Tons of Waste
The Yeongsangang River Basin Environmental Office is transforming festivals in Gwangju, Jeonnam, Gyeongnam, and Jeju into “stages without single-use items.” The plan is to introduce reusable containers at various festival sites where citizens gather, thereby spreading the concept of zero-waste festivals.
According to the Yeongsangang River Basin Environmental Office on the 17th, in cooperation with Gwangju City, Jeonnam Province, Gyeongnam Province, and Jeju Province, a full-scale initiative for “eco-friendly festivals without single-use items” will be launched starting this year. Reusable containers will be introduced at more than 40 regional festivals with high national recognition, and various implementation projects to reduce waste will be carried out.
To this end, the government will provide 1.75 billion won in national funding to local governments, an increase of more than 150% compared to last year. The goal is to reduce more than 340 tons of waste. Previously, national funding was limited to the Jeonnam region, but starting this year, the scope has been expanded to include Gwangju, Jeju, and Hadong in Gyeongnam.
Detailed measures for eco-friendly festivals have also been prepared. The Yeongsangang Office will distribute the “Eco-Friendly Festival Practice Guidelines” and operate a “Waste Reduction Monitoring Team” to check the implementation status of each local government. In addition, local governments with outstanding waste reduction performance will be given incentives such as additional national funding, encouraging competition among local governments to reduce single-use items.
Previously, the Yeongsangang Office signed an agreement with Jeonnam Province last year to reduce single-use items and supported the supply of reusable containers to 22 regional festivals within the province. As a result, 170 tons of waste were reduced, and the Ministry of Environment selected this as a model case for nationwide expansion.
Along with this, reusable containers will also be introduced to public facilities within the region, such as “small cinemas.” The project, which was piloted last year in Yeonggwang County, will be expanded this year to six locations in Jeonnam, including Goheung, Jindo, Gokseong, Hwasun, and Muan. Facilities with outstanding waste reduction performance through the use of reusable containers will also be awarded the “Eco-Friendly Cinema” certification plaque.
Eco-friendly facilities will also be introduced to multi-use facilities such as public libraries. Tumbler washing machines will first be installed in public libraries in some areas, including Mokpo City, and the effectiveness of their use will be analyzed to determine whether to expand the program in the future.
Going forward, the Yeongsangang Office plans to continue discovering new projects to establish an eco-friendly consumption culture, such as expanding the introduction of reusable containers to private facilities with high single-use item usage, including cafes on university campuses and large cinemas in the region.
Commissioner Kim Youngwoo said, “We will take the lead in reducing single-use items and waste through close cooperation with local governments,” adding, “The voluntary participation of citizens is the key to the success of an eco-friendly consumption culture.”
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
