The elderly who collect recyclables
By Sho Chang-young
A periodic national survey of the elderly in Korea started some years ago and is conducted every three years. According to its latest data, around 90,000 of the 7.1 million elderly people in total earn a meager income by collecting recyclables.
One afternoon, after a walk around a nearby park, my wife and I were on our way home. When we were passing the recycling collection spot of our apartment complex, an old lady was doing something there with her personal shopping handcart. I was not interested, but my wife saw it, and said to me, “She's putting the stacked empty bottles into her cart!”
Then, I looked at her. Dragging closed to a cart full of empty bottles, she left our area as if nothing had happened. At first glance, it might seem like she was moving some heavy shopping items. I had an unpleasant feeling about her at first. But after a short while, compassion for her also arose.
There could have been some reason beyond words! Would she take other's recyclables without permission if her conditions weren't that harsh? She might be one of those struggling elderly people who were not receiving adequate support in our society.
In these times, the management office of our apartment repeatedly informs the residents to be sure to place recyclables in the right places (or bins) for handling them appropriately, as there has been an increase in waste due to people spending more time at home during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Among all recyclables, empty bottles have the greatest value. In fact, they can be easily exchanged for small change at any convenience store or supermarket in accordance with the “Empty Bottle Deposit System.” But many of us still consider it bothersome to actively participate in the policy. As a result, there are always quite a number of empty bottles at our recycling collection spot. But even when if you're unaware of it, those empty bottles and other recyclables often disappear without traces.
The maintenance staff at our apartment complex, who are also elderly, are bending over backwards to cover the situation. They are in charge of monitoring and handling recyclables. They regularly check the large quantities of waste that pour in every day, and rearrange the separated recyclables for shipment to collection companies. Small profits from this process could be used for the Apartment Women's Association, the Elderly Association and the janitors themselves.
Sometimes, through the media, stories about problems occurring in connection with apartment maintenance are reported. Our janitors could witness such things happening. In that sense, I hope that troubling cases won't occur in our apartment complex.
In the national context, it can be said that the data and instances above show shameful aspects of the low level of support for our elderly. The livelihoods of those people who are scrounging for recyclables may be more challenging as the social insurance system has not yet been adequately addressed. In these circumstances, it is not fair to try to explain the causes of their tough lives. There are complex issues around the elderly who live in poverty and it's too daunting to be discussed here.
Ultimately, it would be best if no elderly people needed to wander their neighborhoods in search of recyclables. But it's not something that can be achieved in the short term. Thus, as of now, it needs to be emphasized that paying attention to the mental and physical safety of the elderly who collect recyclables is essential. This will be the very first step in providing practical assistance.
The writer is a retired principal of Gunsan Girls High School.