Andong to Change ‘Use-and-Throw’ Habits... Institutionalizing the Transition to Reusable Items

Ordinance Proposed by Kim Jungrim Passes Committee Review
Disposable Product Reduction Starts with Public Institutions and Festivals
Foundation Established to Support Rental, Collection, and Cleaning
Expanding the Local Resource Circulation System

The Andong City Council in North Gyeongsang Province has taken steps to establish an institutional basis for reducing the use of disposable products and expanding the use of reusable items in public institutions, as well as at local festivals and events.

According to the Andong City Council on September 11, an ordinance bill titled "Ordinance on Reducing the Use of Disposable Products and Supporting the Promotion of Reusable Item Usage in Andong," sponsored by Assemblyman Kim Jungrim (Tae-hwa, Pyeonghwa, An-gi, Democratic Party), passed the Economic and Urban Affairs Committee as originally proposed at the 269th first regular session held the previous day.

Ordinance Bill Introduced by Representative Kim Junglim (Tae-hwa, Pyeonghwa, An-gi, Democratic Party) Passed Standing Committee, Applied to Public Institutions, Festivals, and Events
Photo by Andong City Council

The ordinance stipulates the development of action plans for reducing disposable products and promoting the use of reusable items, requiring public institutions to give priority to using reusable items.

It also provides the foundation for supporting the production and distribution of reusable items, as well as their rental, collection, and cleaning. The ordinance enables support for the use of reusable items at local festivals and events as well.

With the implementation of this ordinance, the use of reusable items in the public sector is expected to expand, and it will provide a basis for policies that encourage citizens and businesses to participate voluntarily.

Assemblyman Kim stated, "To reduce the use of disposable products and expand the use of reusable items, we need a system that supports continuous action," and added, "I hope this serves as an opportunity to establish a resource circulation culture involving the public sector, citizens, and businesses working together."

The significance of this ordinance goes beyond simply declaring a reduction in disposable product usage; it institutionalizes the entire resource circulation chain, from the production and distribution of reusable items to their rental, collection, and cleaning.

In particular, because public institutions, festivals, and events will be the first to initiate these changes, there is substantial potential for it to spread as a practical part of daily life.

However, for the system to lead to meaningful reduction effects, follow-up policies are needed to establish a stable collection and cleaning system, and to encourage continuous participation from citizens and businesses.

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