Seongnam City, Led by Shin Sang-jin, Commences Construction of the Only Incinerator Facility in the Metropolitan Area
Proactive Response to the Ban on Direct Landfill in the Seoul Metropolitan Area
Preventing a Waste Crisis Through Communication and Consultation With Residents
Seongnam City in Gyeonggi Province announced on January 19 that it is steadily proceeding with the construction of a replacement facility for the aging waste incinerator located in Sangdaewon-dong, Jungwon-gu, with completion targeted for November next year.
Seongnam City held the "Old Incinerator Replacement Construction Agreement Ceremony" in the City Hall First Conference Room on August 26 last year. Provided by Seongnam City
This initiative is a proactive response to the Waste Management Act, which took effect on January 1 this year and stipulates a complete ban on direct landfill of municipal solid waste in the Seoul metropolitan area.
The ban on direct landfill of municipal solid waste in the metropolitan area is a system that completely prohibits landfilling household waste without proper treatment, such as incineration or recycling. As a result, it has become inevitable for all local governments in the metropolitan area to overhaul their waste management systems.
Currently, 11 cities and counties in the metropolitan area are pursuing the construction of incineration facilities, but Seongnam City is the only one where actual construction has commenced and is underway.
The replacement incineration facility is being built on a 76,400-square-meter site adjacent to the existing waste incinerator.
The construction is progressing smoothly, and once completed as planned, it will replace the current aging incinerator, which has been in operation for 28 years since 1998.
Seongnam City has made it a top priority to communicate and consult with residents in order to address the issue of public acceptance, which is considered the biggest challenge in the construction of incineration facilities.
To this end, in August last year, the city signed an agreement with the Residents’ Support Council for the Indirect Impact Zone of the incinerator and established a fund to support approximately 500 households and 1,300 residents living within a 300-meter radius of the facility, thereby implementing measures to promote coexistence with the local community.
Perspective view of the replacement incineration facility (500t) for the aging incinerator in Sangdaewon-dong, Jungwon-gu, Seongnam City. Provided by Seongnam City
The city plans to strengthen air quality management around the incinerator and to continuously resolve the inconveniences and difficulties experienced by residents during the process of bringing in municipal solid waste.
Seongnam Mayor Shin Sang-jin stated, "We are thoroughly preparing to ensure that there are no gaps in municipal solid waste management by operating the existing aging incinerator stably while simultaneously constructing the replacement facility. Through proactive facility development and communication and cooperation with residents, we aim to prevent a waste crisis and establish a sustainable resource circulation system."
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