Gapyeong County Recycles 4.5 Tons of Discarded Banners as Resources Annually

[Suwon Ilbo=Eom In-yong] Gapyeong County has set a new milestone by converting approximately 4.5 tons of discarded banners generated annually—which had been an environmental concern and burden for disposal—into useful resources for residents' lives.

This policy is particularly significant as it represents a "two birds with one stone" approach that reduces environmental burden by recycling waste while providing practical benefits to residents.

The county announced that it will fully implement the "Voluntary Resource Circulation Sharing Project for Discarded Banners" (brand name: Use Again), which allows residents to freely take and use discarded banners for purposes they need.

This publication examined Gapyeong County's measures that supplement limitations of existing banner recycling methods.

Some local governments have promoted banner recycling through producing shopping bags and aprons, but processing costs typically range from 1,000 to 2,000 won per item while actual demand is limited, raising concerns about budget efficiency.

The county recognized significant practical demand for using banners in their original form—for weed control in farms, as material covers at homes and construction sites, and as floor protection during moving or cleaning.

The initiative aims to establish a resource supply system that residents can readily access while minimizing processing costs.

The county sorts collected banners and selects only those in good condition, excluding heavily contaminated materials.

Support poles and strings are then removed to prevent safety accidents before the banners are provided to users.

The sorted banners are stored in dedicated storage boxes installed at township administrative welfare centers throughout the county, and residents can freely take them as needed.

The banners have wide-ranging applications. They can be used as mulching materials in vegetable gardens and weekend farms, or as protective coverings for floor protection during painting work or moving in homes.

They can also serve as protective covers against rain and sunlight for outdoor stored materials.

The county has also established measures to prevent illegal reuse of advertisements and illegal dumping.

Each banner provided is stamped with a marker indicating it is a recycled item, and residents are advised to take no more than 10 banners per day per person to prevent monopolization by specific individuals.

A voluntary record book is placed next to the storage boxes for residents to voluntarily record the date and purpose of their usage.

"This project is expected to reduce banner disposal costs and help lower carbon emissions," said Shin Yun-sung, head of the Urban Development Division. "From residents' perspective, it will reduce the burden of purchasing agricultural materials and protective coverings, making it a highly tangible resource circulation policy," he added.