Sokcho City Reduces Costs Through Free Timber Waste Processing... Strengthens Resource Circulation

Business Agreement Signed with Cheonil Energy
Annual Budget Savings of 70 Million Won Expected
Timber Waste to Be Converted into Unused Forest Biomass

On January 6, Sokcho City in Gangwon Province signed a business agreement with Cheonil Energy Co., Ltd. at the Sokcho City Hall Situation Room for the "Free Processing of Timber Waste Recycling." Through this agreement, both parties will cooperate to convert timber waste generated within the city into eco-friendly renewable energy.

Sokcho City signed a business agreement with Cheonil Energy Co., Ltd. on the 6th at the Sokcho City Hall Situation Room for the 'Free Processing of Timber Waste Recycling.' Provided by Sokcho City

This agreement was initiated to reduce processing costs and realize carbon neutrality policies by outsourcing the recycling of timber waste generated from forest and urban forest development projects, as well as roadside tree pruning projects, to a private company free of charge.

Under the agreement, waste resources that had previously been processed as timber waste will now be utilized as unused forest biomass. After collection and processing, the timber will be recycled into wood chips and used as eco-friendly renewable energy, such as fuel for combined heat and power plants. The city explained that this agreement is significant in establishing a resource circulation system, moving away from the traditional waste disposal approach.

With this agreement, the city can exclude timber waste processing costs from the design of forest and urban forest projects (including roadside tree pruning), resulting in an expected annual budget savings of about 70 million won, based on 500 tons of timber waste. In addition, the city expects a significant reduction in carbon emissions by replacing fossil fuels.

Cheonil Energy Co., Ltd. is a company that signed a free waste wood consignment processing agreement with Sokcho City in 2023 and has been carrying out related projects. With this new agreement, the scope of recycling will be expanded to include timber waste.

Lee Byungseon, Mayor of Sokcho, stated, "This agreement is a meaningful example of converting discarded timber waste into eco-friendly energy," and added, "We will continue to develop and implement policies to promote resource recycling and achieve carbon neutrality."