Recyclables Turn into Cash... Gwangju Seo-gu 'Resource Circulation Store' Collection Soars 49%

61,552 kg of Recyclables Collected from January to August
An Increase of 20,000 kg Year-on-Year
Rewards Paid Out Up 53.5%
Unmanned Collector Users Up 11-Fold in Four Years

The amount of recyclables collected at the ‘Resource Circulation Store’ operated by Seo-gu in Gwangju Metropolitan City has increased by nearly 50% in one year. By connecting the weight-based reward program with unmanned collection machines for cans and PET bottles, as well as a recyclables exchange system, residents' active participation in waste separation in their daily lives has led to a rise in the total collected amount.

According to Seo-gu on September 14, a total of 61,552 kg of recyclables were collected from 17 Resource Circulation Stores in the district between January and August this year. This represents an increase of 49.3% compared to 41,229 kg collected in the same period last year.

At the Resource Circulation Stores, 137 resource circulation managers help residents with proper waste sorting. When residents bring in recyclables, they are weighed by item and rewards are given accordingly.

Gwangju Seo-gu District in Jeonnam saw a 49.3% increase in the amount of recycled materials collected. Provided by Seo-gu Office

By category, transparent PET bottles accounted for the largest volume with 38,826 kg, followed by paper cartons with 8,426 kg, aluminum cans at 5,630 kg, used batteries at 5,131 kg, and ice packs at 2,039 kg. In particular, the collection of ice packs and used batteries increased by 91.6% and 90.9%, respectively, compared to the same period last year.

As the amount of recyclables collected increased, the total rewards distributed to residents also grew. The cumulative compensation for valuable recyclables from January to August this year was 27.14 million won, a 53.5% increase from the 17.68 million won distributed during the same period last year.

The use of unmanned collection machines for cans and PET bottles has also sharply increased. Seo-gu currently operates 31 unmanned collectors, which allow residents to earn points for recycling that can be converted into cash or other rewards.

The number of users of these unmanned machines grew from 5,494 in 2021 to 60,842 last year, representing an approximately 11-fold increase. Over the same period, the amount of cans and PET bottles collected soared from 10,282 kg to 59,762 kg.

Seo-gu is also expanding programs that facilitate participation in recycling in everyday spaces. At 18 local administrative welfare centers, residents can exchange used batteries and paper cartons for new batteries or standardized waste bags. In regions vulnerable to improper waste separation, 20 "Clean Houses" have been installed and are in operation.

Seo-gu plans to further integrate resource circulation stores, unmanned collection machines, recycling exchange programs, and Clean Houses, expanding a community-based resource circulation system that makes it easier for residents to participate in recycling in their daily lives.

Seo-gu Mayor Kim Ikang stated, "The achievement in resource circulation stems from residents’ small actions becoming an everyday habit," adding, "We will continue to build a sustainable resource-circulating city where all residents can participate easily and conveniently."

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