Disposables to be banned at large events as Seoul declares war on single-use containers

Disposable products will be banned at events attended by over 1,000 people beginning this September as part of the Seoul city government's effort to curb single-use containers.

A worker manages plastic waste at the Suwon Urban Development Corporation in Suwon, Gyeonggi, on April 24. [YONHAP]

Disposable products will be banned at events attended by over 1,000 people beginning this September as part of the Seoul city government's effort to curb single-use containers.

Funeral halls and sports arenas will transition to using multiuse containers.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on Monday its plan to reduce the use of disposable products following the revision of related regulations.

Under the revised rules, events and festivals hosted by the Seoul Metropolitan City with over 1,000 people will be restricted from using disposables beginning in September.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon looks at reusable containers during the 'Multiuse Plastic Food Tray Program' partnership agreement ceremony at Seoul City Hall on April 12. [YONHAP]

Event organizers must also plan ways to reduce waste when organizing events.

As part of the city’s move to reduce disposables, multi-purpose venues that generate substantial disposable waste, such as funeral homes and sports stadiums, will adopt multiuse containers.

Seoul Metropolitan City Dongbu Hospital's funeral hall will discontinue using single-use containers starting next week, followed by Samsung Medical Center’s funeral halls in the second half of the year.

The Seoul Medical Center declared its disuse of disposables at its funeral halls last July.

Since the center adopted the new approach, over 20,000 visitors have used multiuse containers in nine funeral halls monthly, saving 15 tons of disposables.

The used containers are cleaned by a specialized company for reuse.

At Jamsil Baseball Stadium, 38 vendors have sold food and drinks in reusable containers since last month.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government estimates that the measure will reduce waste by about 80 percent annually.

Local stores are expected to join the movement later this year with a “point system.”

Customers who order beverages in their own cups and pay with Seoul Pay will receive 300 won ($0.22) in points, which they can later use as cash.

The city government also financially supports small cafés that adopt more environmentally friendly alternatives, such as paper straws.

Under the revised regulations, leading delivery platforms, including Baemin and Yogiyo, will expand the areas where food can be delivered in multiuse containers.

“The number of deliveries made in multiuse containers has increased to 102,000, 3.5 times more than the previous year,” the Seoul city government said.

BY HAN ON-HWA, WOO JI-WON [woo.jiwon@joongang.co.kr]