Gangnam-gu reports reduction in waste through recycling campaign

Gangnam-gu has reported significant progress in its resource circulation campaign, ‘Well-ssu’ (meaning ‘Well-throwing away trash’), aimed at improving recycling habits and reducing household waste.

Between February and July of this year, the district saw a 2.3% decrease in household waste, totaling 45,233 tons compared to 46,285 tons during the same period last year. Conversely, recycling volume increased by 5.8%, rising from 15,599 tons to 16,504 tons.

The initiative focuses on making waste separation a familiar lifestyle habit, similar to health management, in response to upcoming restrictions on direct landfilling of household waste in the Seoul metropolitan area. Key components of the program include:

• Educational outreach: Approximately 3,600 residents, including children and adults, participated in various training programs. • Component analysis: A system where waste is inspected and residents receive a ‘report card’ categorizing their separation status as ‘healthy,’ ‘caution,’ ‘warning,’ or ‘obese’ based on the presence of misplaced items. • Improved enforcement: New violation notices provide specific details on which items (such as food, plastic, or paper) were incorrectly disposed of, rather than just stating a violation occurred.

District Mayor Kim Hyun-ki stated that the goal is to move beyond simple enforcement and foster a culture where residents can monitor and improve their own waste separation habits.