Yongin City Signs Agreement with Ministry of Environment and Everland to Switch to Reusable Containers

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Choi Ki-ho] Yongin Special City signed a 'Voluntary Agreement for Reducing Single-Use Cup Consumption Customized for Everland' with the Ministry of Environment and Samsung C&T; Resort Division on the afternoon of the 25th at Everland in Pocheon-eup, Cheonan-gu.

Approximately 30 related officials attended the signing ceremony, including Mayor Lee Sang-il of Yongin City, Minister Kim Wan-seop of the Ministry of Environment, and Jeong Hae-rin, Head of Samsung C&T; Resort Division.

The agreement aims to reduce plastic cup usage by replacing single-use cups used at Everland with reusable cups.

In particular, the agreement marks the first collaborative case between the public and private sectors to refrain from using single-use cups, with Yongin City, the Ministry of Environment, and Everland committed to jointly implementing efforts to expand this initiative nationwide.

Under the agreement, the city, the Ministry of Environment, and Samsung C&T; Resort Division plan to switch from single-use cups to reusable cups at Everland starting in June.

Everland will provide reusable cups instead of single-use cups to customers at 28 beverage sales outlets among 45 stores in the theme park when customers purchase beverages for takeout.

Additionally, Everland will install reusable cup collection boxes throughout major areas of the park, allowing customers who purchase beverages to easily return the reusable containers, thereby promoting resource circulation activities.

The city and the Ministry of Environment decided to jointly support initial costs for the transition to reusable containers so that small business owners at Everland can participate, and to monitor whether the transition to reusable containers is implemented properly.

The city, the Ministry of Environment, and Everland plan to actively promote citizen awareness, campaigns, and other initiatives to expand the use of reusable containers, fostering a culture of widespread adoption of reusable containers.

Mayor Lee Sang-il stated, "I find it very meaningful that we have signed the nation's first agreement where the central government, local government, and businesses work together to reduce single-use cup consumption and use reusable cups," and added, "I hope that this agreement will serve as a model case and that many other regions will sign meaningful agreements to reduce single-use cup consumption and preserve our environment."

Minister Kim Wan-seop said, "Today's agreement is an autonomous and benevolent regulation created through communication between the private sector, central government, and local government, and it marks the beginning of a great step forward with the public changing consumption culture and leading to environmental education," and stated, "We will work to expand this successful model to other theme parks, beverage franchise outlets, universities, and regional festivals."

Representative Jeong Hae-rin stated, "Recognizing that the natural environment we live in is a precious asset that must be passed on to future generations as it is, Samsung C&T; Resort Division's Everland is actively participating in environmental protection through ESG management," and added, "We will make every effort to ensure that this agreement to promote the use of reusable containers is well implemented through cooperation with the city and the Ministry of Environment, so that today's agreement creates greater synergy."

After the business agreement ceremony, Mayor Lee Sang-il, Minister Kim Wan-seop, Representative Jeong Hae-rin, and related officials moved to 'Four Seasons Garden' within Everland, where they conveyed a message to customers to participate in using reusable containers and distributed 300 drinks served in reusable containers.