The province has responded to withering criticism about its new waste disposal policy by expanding the number of days on which recyclables may be thrown out. Joseph Kim has the details.



Report

People must throw out their trash within a certain time period, and recyclables have designated days on which they may be disposed.

But the island’s trash collection plan looks ill conceived.

[slug]
New waste policy creates confusion, anger

Confusion abounds among residents regarding designated disposal days. And they have to pile up paper and plastic trash throughout the weekends which are major recyclables created from households.

The province announced its modified waste disposal plan three months into its trial period.

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Island residents may now dispose of recyclables more often

It has modified the number of designated days on which area residents can throw out their recyclables.


Plastics may be disposed on Mondays and Fridays and now on Sundays.

Plastic bags can be thrown out on Thursdays and additionally on Sundays.

Residents can recycle their paper trash on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

Glass and noncombustible recyclables including shell and coal are collected on Saturdays and Tuesdays.

The number of designated days on which plastic, paper, glass and noncombustible trash may be thrown out has increased to two or three days.


Recording
Kim Bang-hoon / Deputy governor
We’ve increased the number of days for recyclables from one or two days to two or three. Paper and plastic may now also be thrown out on weekends. Glass bottles are now also picked up on Tuesday, and plastic bags are collected on Sunday.
<씽크:김방훈/제주특별자치도 정무부지사>
"종류별 배출횟수를 일주일에 한두번 배출하던 것을 두세번으로 늘렸습니다. 배출량이 많은 종이류와 플리스틱은 주말에도 버릴 수 있도록 조정했고 병류는 화요일, 폐비닐은 일요일에도 버릴 수 있도록 개선했습니다."

20 recycling centers in which recyclables are collected everyday will be built across the island to ease the inconvenience of residents.

However, cans and metals are only allowed to be thrown out on Wednesdays as originally planned as the amount of metal trash is not large.

Recording
Kim Yang-bo / Dir., Provincial dept. of environmental conservation
If a glass bottle or a can contains trash inside, it cannot be recycled. It has to go to the landfill. We need the public’s help to recycle more.
<씽크:김양보/제주특별자치도 환경보전국장>
"많은 양의 이물질이 들어있는 경우가 많습니다. 이게 재활용되기 보다는 매립장으로 다시 가는 악순환의 연속입니다. 이런 부분은 시민의 힘으로 극복할 수 있지 수거해서 낱개로 매일 씻을 수는 없습니다."

[Reporter] Joseph Kim
[Camera] Kim Seung-cheol

The province asks for residents’ cooperation and understanding for the new waste disposal system to be properly implemented during the trial period until June this year saying it will listen to islanders’ opinions and ideas to improve the system.

Joseph Kim, KCTV