On September 29, Incheon Namdong District announced that it will launch the "Hope Meal Sharing Project," the first donation initiative in Incheon to utilize surplus school meals.
"Surplus meals" refer to clean, untouched food left over after preparation in group catering, which is hygienically distinct from leftovers that have already been served. However, most surplus meals are currently discarded as food waste, incurring significant disposal costs. In fact, as of last year, the cost of handling school meal waste in Namdong District reached approximately 270 million won.
In the past, donating surplus meals was difficult due to issues with the Food Sanitation Act. However, in August last year, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety established regulations for storage and transport management, paving the way for such donations. Based on this, Namdong District became the first in Incheon to prepare concrete implementation measures.
Under the project, participating schools will hygienically sort and collect surplus meals, then hand them over to welfare institutions such as community welfare centers with the help of volunteers. These institutions will then divide the meals into lunch boxes and distribute them to vulnerable groups, including basic livelihood recipients, single-parent families, and elderly people living alone.
To ensure the project's success, the district plans to survey local schools and welfare centers for participation and demand before launching a pilot program. Based on beneficiary satisfaction and operational results, the project will be gradually expanded. During the pilot phase, all expenses for transport containers and labor will be covered entirely by donations.
Through this project, the district aims to turn food that would otherwise be wasted into a welfare resource, creating an innovative leading model that encompasses carbon reduction, welfare enhancement, and the spread of sharing.
Park Jonghyo, Mayor of Namdong District, said, "The school meal donation project is more than just sharing food; it is a meaningful policy that puts carbon neutrality and love for our neighbors into practice. We will lead the way in creating a sustainable and exemplary local community in Incheon."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
