The government is activating a special waste collection system to prepare for the surge in household waste during the Chuseok holiday. It will also focus on inspecting excessive packaging of holiday gift sets and monitoring the accumulation of recyclables such as paper and plastic.
The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment announced on September 13 that it will implement a "Special Management Plan for Household Waste during the Chuseok Holiday" in collaboration with local governments, the Korea Environment Corporation, and the Korea Expressway Corporation from September 14 to 30.
Local governments across the country will operate waste management teams and mobile cleaning crews during the holiday period. They plan to quickly collect household waste while enhancing patrols and enforcement in areas prone to illegal dumping.
Areas with high waste generation, such as traditional markets, terminals, and rest areas, will undergo intensive cleaning before the holiday. Additional cleaning personnel and temporary collection bins will be deployed during the holiday, and waste sorting facilities and storage sites will be inspected in advance.
Each region will designate specific collection days for household waste during the holiday. Residents can check the collection schedule on local government websites and community bulletin boards, so they should review the schedule before disposal.
Inspections will also be conducted on excessive packaging of holiday gift sets. The ministry will focus on compliance with packaging space ratios, the number of packaging layers, and proper labeling for recyclable materials in large stores until September 23.
The Korea Environment Corporation will launch a "Food Waste Reduction Challenge" from September 17 to 30 to encourage the public to minimize food waste during Chuseok. Details on how to participate will be announced on the corporation's website.
The Ministry of Climate, the Korea Environment Corporation, and the Korea Resource Circulation Support Center will also monitor the inflow and outflow of recyclables such as paper, plastic, and glass bottles, as well as market trends. If an accumulation of recyclables is anticipated, they plan to proactively expand storage.
Kim Go-eung, Director of the Resource Circulation Bureau at the Ministry of Climate, stated, "We will operate a rapid collection system during the holiday to minimize public inconvenience and urge citizens to refrain from purchasing excessively packaged products and actively participate in proper waste separation."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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