Gyeonggi Province to Conduct Intensive Collection of Agricultural Waste Through April 30 with Compensation

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hun] Gyeonggi Province is operating an intensive collection period for agricultural waste through April 30.

This is to prevent fine dust generation from illegal incineration under the Seasonal Management System for Fine Dust.

The intensive collection of agricultural waste is conducted twice a year—during the first half (February to April) and second half (November to December) around farming seasons. Last year alone, 17,393 tons of agricultural waste plastic and 3.004 million pesticide containers were collected and processed.

Waste plastics and pesticide containers collected from farms are stored at village-level collection centers and then transferred to the Korea Environment Institute under the Ministry of Environment.

Waste plastics are shredded, washed, and compressed for reuse as raw materials, while used pesticide containers are either recycled or incinerated.

Gyeonggi Province plans to promote proper disposal methods for agricultural waste to farmers during the seasonal management period and actively encourage collection of agricultural waste by paying compensation.

Compensation is provided when farmers bring agricultural waste to collection centers installed in their villages, with payment based on the type and quantity of waste.

Waste plastic costs 70 to 150 won per kilogram depending on foreign material content, while used pesticide containers are compensated at 80 won per unit for bags and 100 won per unit for containers.

Meanwhile, Gyeonggi Province has been implementing a "Joint Collection Center Expansion Support Project" since 2014 to address the aging rural population and inconvenience caused by long-distance collection and transportation. To date, a total of 236 collection centers have been installed.

The province plans to install 54 collection centers this year, more than double the 22 installed last year, to increase the collection rate of agricultural waste plastic.

Once all 54 centers are installed, Gyeonggi Province will have 290 collection centers in total.

A Gyeonggi Province official stated, "Agricultural waste collection is a project that reduces fine dust in rural areas, promotes resource recycling to reduce soil contamination, and creates a clean rural environment," adding "Active participation and cooperation from residents are needed for successful intensive collection."