Buan Introduces Reusable Containers at Festivals, Cuts Waste by 8.2 Tons

Cut greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to planting about 3,600 pine trees

Buan County in Jeonbuk Province has reduced the use of disposable items and cut waste by introducing reusable containers at local festivals.

According to Buan County on October 20, the use of reusable containers at the Buan Masil Festival and the Buan Red Sunset Festival reduced waste by about 8.2 metric tons and greenhouse gas emissions by 24.2 tons of CO2 equivalent (CO2eq), a measure that converts greenhouse gases into the equivalent amount of carbon dioxide.

This year, Buan County replaced disposable items used at food stalls at the festivals with reusable containers. The county managed the collection, washing, and resupply of used containers. The initiative aimed to reduce waste generated at festival sites while encouraging visitors and participating businesses to practice resource circulation.

At the 13th Buan Masil Festival, held in May, waste fell from 18.5 metric tons to 10.6 metric tons, a reduction of about 42.7%. At the recent Buan Red Sunset Festival, waste also declined from 1.3 metric tons to 1.0 metric ton, a decrease of about 23%.

Buan County calculated that the reductions achieved at the two festivals cut greenhouse gas emissions by about 24.2 tons of CO2eq. To put the impact in perspective, this is comparable to planting about 3,600 30-year-old pine trees or keeping 11 passenger cars off the road for a year.

The reusable-container initiative went beyond simply replacing disposable items. It operated by collecting used containers, washing them, and supplying them again. The focus was on reducing waste from disposable items while maintaining hygiene at the festival sites.

A Buan County official said, "The reusable-container support program is an important effort to reduce the use of disposable items and create a clean festival environment. We will continue to spread a carbon-neutral culture in which residents and tourists practice resource circulation in their daily lives."

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