Environmental Networking Platform for Children and Youth by SAMSUNG E&A
Stay connected with Eco-generation :
| Share 
| 
- Home >
- Our Actions >
- Ambassador report
2
Comments
Food wastage in South Korea |
|---|
|
Food wastage is one of the largest components that fill up our landfill. An average person will produce 475 pounds of wasted food, as food is the third heaviest category of trash in our landfills. Not only does this waste a lot of our resources, food waste releases odors and liquids that act as pollutants to our environment. Food waste is a major problem globally, but I will take this time to discuss how South Korea is trying to fix its problems of wasting food.
The South Korean government aggressively asserts the issues of food waste. In 2010, the government introduced a food waste fee system. Ultimately, the plan for this system was to discourage citizens to produce food waste as they are required to pay for throwing it out. One system charges citizens on the amount of food waste they produced based on its weight and volume. There is a high-tech food waste bin that will measure the weight of the food. This weight will accordingly charge the person on the amount of food they produced. This fee will later be charged to the resident's household as the resident must enable the machine by accessing it with a card. The heavier your food waste is, the more money you will be required to pay. This food waste bin is one of the ways that charges citizens on the amount of food waste they produce. Another way the government implemented a food waste fee is how they required citizens to purchase a 'special' plastic bag. This special plastic bag is mandatory to purchase for throwing out food. Authorities will only accept food waste that are placed in this particular plastic bag. In order to purchase a bigger bag, you'll have to pay more. This rule also goes for many restaurants in South Korea as well. Different areas have different methods of throwing out food waste. However, the plastic bag and the food waste bin are one of the most common methods seen. |
  
|
|
|
|
|
Previous : Are you acquainted with Vertic...
2 Comments
I think you have some good systems in place when it comes to handling waste in general. People need to change their attitude towards food waste and Korea will be great.
Posted 01-03-2016 22:46
It's really sad to note that food waste is the third heaviest category of trash in your landfills. Good to know that Korean government has some things in place like food waste fee. Thanks for the report. Let's all say 'NO to food wastage'.
Posted 01-03-2016 03:00