Songpa-gu Saves 69.2 Billion Won in Food Waste Reduction, Wins Prime Minister’s Award

On September 6, Songpa-gu in Seoul (District Mayor: Seo Kangseok) announced that it had received the Prime Minister’s Award after being selected as the top-ranked local government in the nation for the “2026 Food Waste Management Performance Evaluation” at the 18th annual Resources Circulation Day event, which was hosted by the Ministry of Environment on September 4. This marks the district’s third major achievement following the grand prize in 2023 and the Minister of Environment Award in 2024.

A 0.6-liter food waste volume-based bag, the first of its kind introduced nationwide by Songpa District. Provided by Songpa District.

The Ministry of Environment conducted a comprehensive evaluation of local governments nationwide, using on-site inspections and committee reviews to assess efforts to reduce waste generation, fee systems, the management of collection, transportation and treatment facilities, and the level of interest shown by agency leaders. Since introducing volume-based waste disposal in 2013, Songpa-gu has carried out proactive waste reduction policies, and, compared to 2012, reduced its volume of food waste by a total of around 30,700 tons. The district explained that this reduction translates to over 69.1 billion won in waste treatment budget savings.

The key driver of this reduction is the extensive implementation of the “RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) Food Waste Meters.” Currently, a total of 3,488 units are in operation, covering 100% of apartment complexes and 30% of single-family homes in the district. By mandating the installation of RFID meters at the building approval stage for new housing, Songpa-gu secured a competitive edge over other local governments.

In response to the growing number of one- and two-person households, Songpa-gu was the first in the nation to introduce the “0.6-liter volume-based food waste bag,” which has been well received for alleviating household inconveniences such as summer odors and infestations of insects. The district invested 35 million won of its own budget to support the purchase of 250 home-use mini food waste reducers and enacted related ordinances to ensure the program’s sustainability. In a waste reduction competition among 115 apartment complexes in the district, voluntary participation led to a 7.03% reduction in food waste.

The district was also praised for its establishment of an “eco-friendly system,” including continuous monitoring and thorough odor management at treatment facilities. It achieved 180% of its 2025 biogas production target, demonstrating its capability to lead in the era of carbon neutrality.

District Mayor Seo Kangseok stated, “This award is a valuable result made possible by our residents’ active involvement in reducing food waste in their daily lives. We will continue to develop and promote resource circulation policies that are closely connected to residents’ lives, working toward building a sustainable, low-carbon, eco-friendly city in Songpa.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.