Parcel boxes move along a conveyor belt at a logistics center in Seoul on Jan. 31, 2021. (Yonhap)
JEJU, May 11 (Korea Bizwire) – The provincial government of Jeju Island has outlined a plan to gradually replace plastic parcel packages with reusable materials in order to minimize plastic usage.
The provincial office on Wednesday announced its target of reducing plastic usage by 50 percent by 2040 while increasing the recycling rate to 100 percent.
All parcel packages transported within the island will be gradually substituted with packaging made from reusable materials.
Furthermore, the province will collaborate with the Ministry of Environment to introduce reusable packaging materials for all parcels traveling from Seoul or Incheon to Jeju.
Additionally, the province will designate specific vendors where consumers must bring their own containers for purchasing food and beverages.
They will also implement a deposit system for an increased number of stores using plastic cups and establish recycling facilities.
To facilitate the recycling efforts, a resource retrieval center capable of processing up to 140 tons of plastic for reuse will be opened in June.
To achieve these goals by 2040, the province has set five objectives with 30 sub-tasks and plans to invest 1.08 trillion won (US$813 million).
The province aims to reduce plastic waste from 66,171 tons in 2020 to 46,320 tons in 2030 (a 30 percent reduction), and further down to 33,086 tons in 2040 (a 50 percent reduction).
Additionally, the province aims to increase the recycling rate from 49.2 percent in 2020 to 70 percent in 2030 and eventually reach 100 percent by 2040.
In 2021, Jeju Island generated a total of 475,692 tons of waste, with plastic accounting for 15.1 percent of the total.
H. M. Kang (hmkang@koreabizwire.com)
