It’s been one year since Jeju City and Seogwipo instituted massive changes in the way islanders dispose of their waste. At a recent public forum on the issue, government officials and local residents assessed the system differently. Joseph Kim has more.




Report

To reduce trash on the island, the island came up with a plan for designated disposal days and tested the system over the last 12 months.

The disposal of recyclables, such as bottles and cans, are limited to one specific day a week.

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Designated disposal days instituted one year ago

During the test period, people criticized the local government saying it only blamed residents for the increase in the amount of garbage.

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Disposal system discussed in public forum

To assess the designated trash day system, representatives from Jeju City and Seogwipo City met with residents last week.

The two cities assessed that the new system has achieved meaningful results.

Go Gyeong-sil / Jeju City mayor
The amount of incinerated trash dropped 13 percent over the last 12 months, and the new system is being accepted as part of local life.
< 고경실 / 제주시장 >매립 소각 쓰레기가 마이너스 13%로 바꿔 돌아섰다는 걸 의미 있게 보고 있고 지난 1년을 돌아보면 생활 문화로 정착되고 있는 중이다.

Lee Sang-sun / Seogwipo City mayor
The growth rate in the amount of trash fell by 50 percent this year. The biggest drop was in paper trash.
< 이상순 / 서귀포시장 >
서귀포지역에도 발생 증가율이 지난해보다 50% 정도 줄었습니다. 특히 종이류는 거의 발생량이 없습니다.

Residents also give positive reviews in general.

However, the island has a long way to go for the full implementation of the system.

An Chang-jun / Director, Waste disposal evaluation committee
In the case of tofu packaging, the container is moulded stiff plastic and the lid is soft plastic. They need to be disposed of separately, but people still throw them out together.
< 안창준 / 생활쓰레기 배출실태 평가단장 >
두부인 경우 포장지는 플라스틱인데 뚜껑은 비닐류입니다. 상세하게 구분해서 배출해야 하는데 아직까지도 시민들은 접근이 안 되고 있다.

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‘Time limit should be eased’

Trash currently should be taken out to trash stations between 3 PM and 4 AM.

Some argued that the time limit needs to be relaxed.

Lee Shin-seon / Director, Seogwipo YWCA branch
Many have complained about the time limit. I believe the government should listen to them. Some want to take the trash out in the morning on their way to work.
< 이신선 / 서귀포 YWCA 사무총장 >
많은 사람들이 불편하니까 얘기하는 거예요. '불편함도 감수해라' 보다는 왜 새벽이 아니면 아침에 출근하면서 버릴 수 없느냐도 귀담아 들을 필요가 있다고 생각해요. 무조건 잘라내지만 말고.

People evaluated and looked back on the one-year old trash system at the open forum.

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

Participants also discussed ways to improve the system.

Joseph Kim, KCTV