Gyeonggi Province will take measures to manage illegal stockpiled compost to prevent soil and water pollution within the Paldang Watershed Management Area.
As the farming season approaches, Gyeonggi Province has reported cases where livestock manure compost is improperly piled up not in compost storage facilities but on national/public land, private land, riverbanks, and roadsides by livestock and crop farmers. During the rainy season, leachate from the stockpiled compost can flow out, causing soil contamination, and if it flows into rivers, it can deteriorate water quality and cause environmental pollution.
Accordingly, Gyeonggi Province will manage stockpiled compost in the Paldang Watershed Management Area, including Yongin, Gwangju, Namyangju, Yangpyeong, Icheon, Yeoju, and Gapyeong, by implementing ▲ on-site surveys (in cooperation with the Korea Environment Preservation Association) ▲ sharing survey information and roles of each agency through meetings with provincial, city/county governments and related organizations (Environment Preservation Association and Livestock Cooperative) ▲ joint inspections and guidance by provincial and city/county governments (installation of covers and drainage channels) ▲ preventing improper compost storage and collecting illegal stockpiled compost before the rainy season begins.
Livestock and crop farmers must install covers (plastic sheets or tarps) to prevent leachate from leaking when stockpiling livestock manure compost. Illegal stockpiled compost will be collected and subject to administrative actions such as complaints and fines.
Yoon Deok-hee, Director of the Water Resources Headquarters of Gyeonggi Province, said, "We will do our best to manage stockpiled compost to prevent water pollution in the Paldang Watershed Management Area, which is the water source for citizens in the metropolitan area, and to preserve a clean natural environment."
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