Geochang County Uses 808,890 Reusable Containers at Local Festivals, Moves to Cut Disposable Waste

Reusable containers supplied at two events: the 6th Gamaksan Flower Star Trip and the 2026 Geochang Hanmadang Grand Festival

Estimated reduction of about 8.1 tons of plastic waste and 56.6 tons of CO2-equivalent emissions

Collection, cleaning, and resupply system operated... county to expand resource-circulation festivals

Geochang County in South Gyeongsang Province has promoted a reusable-container support program at two of its signature local festivals, the “6th Gamaksan Flower Star Trip” and the “2026 Geochang Hanmadang Grand Festival,” to reduce the use of disposable items and cut waste at festival venues.

The county said on November 4 that a total of 808,890 reusable containers were supplied and used at the two festivals this year.

The program was designed to reduce disposable waste generated at festival venues by supplying reusable containers, collecting and cleaning them after use, and then supplying them again.

[Photo courtesy of Geochang County] Reusable containers used at a local festival in Geochang County are being collected. The county has introduced a system to supply, collect, wash, and redistribute reusable containers to reduce waste at festival venues.

According to the county, 229,890 reusable containers in 13 types were supplied to two booths at the “6th Gamaksan Flower Star Trip,” held from September 24 to 27.

At the “2026 Geochang Hanmadang Grand Festival,” held from October 1 to 4, the county supplied 579,000 reusable containers in 13 types to 11 booths at the local food pavilion.

The reusable containers supplied for the two festivals were used to serve food and drinks. A system was in place at the venues for returning and collecting used containers, cleaning them, and reusing them.

Geochang County estimated that the reusable-container support program prevented about 8.1 tons of plastic waste and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by about 56.6 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2eq), compared with the use of disposable containers.

However, these figures are estimates of waste reduction and emissions savings provided by the county. The actual reductions may vary depending on the calculation method, including the containers’ collection rate and number of reuses, as well as the cleaning and transportation processes.

The program is significant in that it reduced the use of disposable items when serving food at festival venues while also encouraging visitors to use and return reusable containers.

The county plans to expand the use of reusable containers at local festivals and continue its resource-circulation policies to reduce the use of disposable items.

“We achieved results in reducing the use of disposable items by expanding the use of reusable containers at local festivals,” said Park Seungjin, head of the Environment Division. “We will continue to pursue resource-circulation policies so that residents and visitors can use reusable containers.”

For the reusable-container support program to continue, its effectiveness should be assessed through a comprehensive analysis of not only the number of containers supplied, but also the actual collection rate, number of reuses, and cleaning and transportation costs.

Ongoing monitoring of the collection rate, number of reuses, and operating costs, alongside supply figures, is needed to assess the program’s actual environmental impact.

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