Incheon City Government Launches Major Household Waste Reduction Drive with Counties and Districts, Targeting an 8% Cut by 2030

[Financial News, Incheon = Reporter Han Gap-su] Incheon Metropolitan City Government is joining forces with counties and districts to launch a major household waste reduction drive, aimed at ensuring the stable implementation of the Seoul metropolitan area's ban on direct landfilling and strengthening the resource circulation system.
Incheon Metropolitan City Government announced on the 20th that it will evaluate household waste reduction performance in 11 counties and districts across the city.
The evaluation will cover reduction performance over the eight-month period from January through August this year and will combine quantitative and qualitative assessments.
The city government aims to reduce household waste generation by 8% by 2030 compared with 2025 levels. Its plan calls for cutting annual household waste generation from 332,642 tons in 2025 to approximately 306,031 tons in 2030.
The city government will assess three areas: the household waste reduction rate, efforts to implement policies, and policy promotion and public outreach. To improve objectivity and fairness, reduction rates will be evaluated after adjusting for population changes in each county and district. The policy implementation category will examine the establishment of comprehensive reduction plans and project performance. Best practices and citizen-participatory outreach activities will also be evaluated.
Based on the evaluation results, the city government plans to select one outstanding local government and recommend it as a candidate for a commendation from the Minister of Climate. Starting next year, it will also provide city funds for reduction projects to support the counties and districts in pursuing sustained waste reduction policies. The budget for related projects this year totals KRW 650 million.
Because reducing household waste is a key task in achieving zero direct landfilling and creating a pleasant urban environment, the city government plans to strengthen cooperation with the counties and districts and continue developing effective reduction policies.
Jeong Seung-hwan, director of Incheon Metropolitan City Government’s Environmental Affairs Bureau, said, "We will link thorough evaluations with effective support so that waste reduction policies pursued by the counties and districts lead to tangible results on the ground."
[email protected] Han Gap-su Reporter