Jeju City changed its waste disposal policy this month. Residents may now only bring out trash in the evenings, and certain types of recyclables may only be disposed of on certain days. A lot of locals are unhappy with the new rules. Joseph Kim reports.



Report


This is the bulletin board of the provincial office’s website.


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New trash policy brings flood of complaints


Since the beginning of the month, a trial run of a new trash collection system in Jeju City has been implemented.


Complaints about the new policy are flooding in.


[slug] Doubt on effectiveness in waste reduction

People doubt the effectiveness of the new system which requires residents to take out certain types of trash on certain days of the week.


Many express it is very inconvenient to store trash in their house for a week.

People have criticized the new policy, saying it was born out of administrative opportunism.

All of the problems were anticipated.

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Flood of complaints also on Jeju City’s website


Posts denouncing the new system are inundating the bulletin board of the Jeju City website.

And the trash management division is swamped with calls from residents.


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Unintended consequences include fewer people recycling

As the new system limits trash types by day and time, illegally trash dumping is also increasing.


Many people have stopped separating recyclables and placed food waste into the garbage bag for combustible trash.


The island’s trash management system would regress.


Interview
Mun Jeong-ja / Worker, ‘Clean House’ waste collection station
Some put all types of trash into a garbage bag. We have to sort through them and put everything in the right place.
<인터뷰:문정자 클린하우스 지킴이>
"몰래 봉지에 다른 쓰레기를 같이 담아서 여기다 그냥 버려요. 그래서 우리는 그걸 분리해서 동사무소에서 나오는 봉지에 다 담아야 되잖아요"

In a minor policy adjustment, residents are once again permitted to take out food waste at any time of day.


[Reporter] Joseph Kim
[Camera] Park Byeong-joon


Until a better system is implemented, complaints will likely linger.

Joseph Kim, KCTV