Seo-gu, Gwangju Receives Prime Minister's Commendation for Food Waste Management

267.8 Tons Reduced Year-on-Year
"Achieving Resource Circulation"

Seo-gu, Gwangju City received the Prime Minister's Commendation in the '2025 Food Waste Management Local Government Performance Evaluation' hosted by the Ministry of Environment.

Seo-gu District of Gwangju received the Prime Minister's Commendation in the '2025 Food Waste Management Local Government Performance Evaluation' hosted by the Ministry of Environment. Photo by Seo-gu District of Gwangju

According to Seo-gu on September 8, this evaluation was conducted for 228 basic local governments nationwide. Outstanding local governments from each city and province were selected based on a comprehensive review of document screening and on-site evaluations. The main evaluation criteria included the current status of food waste management, the commitment of the institution's leadership to policy implementation, and the level of resident participation.

Seo-gu achieved notable results by supporting 10 food waste reduction machines annually, reaching an 83% supply rate of RFID-based pay-as-you-throw bins in apartment complexes, and expanding the distribution of RFID bins to general residential areas, thereby reducing food waste by 267.8 tons compared to the previous year.

Additionally, Seo-gu received high marks for resident participation policies aimed at spreading a voluntary reduction culture, such as selecting outstanding apartment complexes and large-scale waste-generating businesses for food waste reduction performance, and holding a poster contest for elementary school students to promote food waste reduction.

Seo-gu Mayor Kim Ikang stated, "This award is the result of mature resident participation and systematic policy implementation," adding, "We will continue to pursue leading policies to realize a sustainable resource-circulating society."

Meanwhile, Seo-gu has promoted a culture of resource circulation by training resource circulation managers and collecting various recyclable items such as PET bottles, paper packs, cans, and used batteries at resource circulation shops installed in every neighborhood. A total of 1,604 residents have received approximately 26 million won in rewards for their participation.