Boxes filled with trash are placed next to trash cans near Gyeongbok Palace Station on Subway Line No. 3 in Seoul, Tuesday. Korea Times photo by Jung Da-hyun City's plan to increase rubbish bins needs cooperation of local districts By Jung Da-hyun A lack of trash cans in Seoul has led to more litter piling up on the streets as well as a surge in complaints. As of this year, there are 4,956 trash cans across the capital, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Government. The number has been decreasing steadily since the introduction of the volume-based waste fee system in 1995, when there were a total of 7,607 trash cans. Under the system, people pay for waste treatment in proportion to the amount they dispose. As a result, many people have dumped their household trash into public trash cans to avoid paying the fee. That prompted the city to gradually remove trash cans from the streets. Not a single trash can is found on a stretch of road from Jonggak Station on Seoul Metro Line 1 to Gwanghwamun Station on Line 5, a main business district in downtown Seoul. Also, there is not even a single trash can at Gwanghwamun Square, spanning an area of about 560 square meters. As a result, disposable plastic cups, probably left behind by people who enjoyed coffee, are often spotted on chairs on the square. Only one trash can stands on the road between Gwanghwamun Square to Gyeongbokgung Station on Line 3. Next to this lone rubbish bin, boxes were spotted last Tuesday filled with trash, clearly highlighting the need for more trash cans. Adjacent to a tree located near a bus station near Gyeongbokgung Station, garbage bags were piled up, and disposable cups were strewn about over them. On the same night, a passerby tossed a plastic cup on one of the bags and hopped on a bus. Garbage bags are piled up in an alley in Jongno District, Seoul, Tuesday. Korea Times photo by Jung Da-hyun A 2021 survey conducted by the Climate and Environment Headquarters of the Seoul Metropolitan Government showed that 73.3 percent of respondents felt there was a shortage of trash cans in the capital. Ahn Yu-jin, a 61-year-old man, had to carry an empty disposable cup all the way home after drinking coffee as he walked through Gwanghwamun Square on a Friday morning. "I was trying to find a trash can before catching a bus, but I couldn’t find one,” he said. "Usually, if I have empty bottles after drinking water or other beverages, I search for a nearby convenience store or building to find a trash can, which is pretty inconvenient.” Foreign visitors also face inconveniences due to the trash can shortage. “I once went to Namdaemun Market to enjoy the street food and scenery, and I couldn't find a single trash can as I walked around town,” said Itai Madamombe from the United States, who visited Korea four times, recalling her first visit. Sarah Mack, another American who has been living here on and off since 2013, also said, “When I lived in the U.S., I guess these trash cans were somewhat 'invisible' to me because they were so abundant, but now, they stand out to me because they are so rare in Seoul.” Amid growing complaints, the Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to increase the number of trash cans to 5,500 by the end of this year. The city also aims to expand the number to 6,500 by 2024 and 7,500 by 2025. The city intends to install new trash cans in areas with a high volume of foot traffic, such as Gwanghwamun and Yeouido, where numerous office buildings are located, as well as near tourist spots like Gyeongbok Palace and bus stops. However, specific plans and the successful implementation of increased trash can numbers remain somewhat unclear because this is not a decision solely under the control of the Seoul Metropolitan Government.
