Taxpayer Money for Pet Waste Disposal?... Controversy Over Sejong City Council Ordinance

Ordinance Bill for Installation and Operation of Pet Waste Disposal Facilities Proposed
City Says, "Owners Should Collect Waste... Budget Waste Concerns Due to Financial Considerations"

Sejong Special Self-Governing City Council Building.

An ordinance bill titled "Installation and Operation of Pet Waste Disposal Facilities," which aims to install and operate a disposal system for pet waste in public spaces in Sejong City, has been proposed. This is expected to trigger considerable aftereffects, including budgetary concerns.

Recently, a member of the Sejong City Council proposed this ordinance, leading to conflict with the city administration. The administration argues that the ordinance is not practical compared to the installation budget and ongoing management costs required.

According to Sejong City and the city council on June 12, the ordinance stipulates that the mayor is responsible for recycling collected pet waste.

However, the relevant department has expressed its opposition, stating that the ordinance lacks practicality.

A city official explained, "The principle is that pet owners should collect their pets' waste themselves, and considering the city's financial situation, there is a risk of budget waste. Just as it is a moral principle for residents to clear snow or garbage in front of their homes during winter, it is difficult to allocate budget for pet waste disposal."

According to a survey by Sejong City, installing pet waste disposal facilities would cost approximately 600 million won, and at least 50 million won per year would be needed for labor and facility maintenance costs.

A local resident also pointed out, "It is not desirable to use citizens' taxes for such purposes. When accompanying pets, owners are responsible for managing them, and it is not appropriate to use taxes to accommodate the selfish convenience of those who refuse to clean up after their pets."

The resident added, "The economic difficulties faced by small business owners are growing. I hope that, considering priorities, economic ordinances to support them will be proposed first."