Residents of (봉개) Bonggae-dong have stated that they will refuse to accept food waste from across the island beginning August 15.
Fears are looming of a second round of food waste crisis following last year’s troubling dilemma.
Joseph Kim reports.
The Bonggae-dong(봉개동) Community Food Waste Task Force refused to accept food waste delivered from across the island last year saying that the province breached the agreement on terms of use of the food waste treatment facility.
Following marathon talks, the task force and the governor reached an agreement. The Task Force lifted blockage on the road to the food waste treatment facility and the governor promised treatment of compressed trash and odor reduction.
However, the same problem is likely to reoccur in one year.
The Bonggae(봉개) Community Food Waste Task warns that it would not accept food waste saying the requirements agreed by the province in October, 2019 haven’t been fulfilled.
The Task Force issued notice by sending an official letter to Jeju City, stating that they will refuse to accept food waste delivered from across the island beginning August 15th unless countermeasures are prepared.
The Task Force argues that area residents suffer from odor created by the food waste treatment facility and damage from exceeding its capacity.
20 tons of food waste have been delivered to (봉개) Bonggae from (읍) eup and (면) myeon areas of the island every day since the end of last year.
The term of the use of the food waste treatment facility in (봉개) Bonggae will expire in October, 2021.
The newly planned facility in (색달) Saekdal, Seogwipo is scheduled for completion in 2023.
This means that Jeju City should persuade area residents in Bonggae to accept food waste until the new facility is completed.
Jeju City is planning to spend 6 billion won in improving the existing facility to reduce odor and expand the daily capacity to 220 tons.
Jeju City shared the plan with the task force.
The task force held a meeting with the Jeju City mayor (안동우) An dong-u to find solutions on August 10.
The task force also asked to meet with the governor.
Eyes are on Bonggae to see whether the two sides can reach an agreement to prevent another food waste crisis.
Joseph Kim, KCTV