Press Release
Reference Materials for Vice Minister of Environment's On-site Visit to Jeju Recycling Center and Bottled Water Manufacturer
- Date:
- 2024-03-14
- View:
- 383
1. On-site Schedule
March 14 (Thursday), Jeju Recycling Center (morning) and Jeju Samdasoo (afternoon)
2. Main Message
▷ "In the era of climate disasters, the linear economy dependent on underground resources has reached its limits, and transitioning to a circular economy that sustainably recycles resources will be the breakthrough for growth."
- "We will address the challenges faced by companies in the recycling of electronic products and solar panels, as well as in the production of bottled water without vinyl labels, thus establishing the foundation for the transition in the production sites of the circular economy."
- "Through scientific groundwater management, we will conserve groundwater and continue to create exemplary cases by providing institutional support for the growth of the bottled water market and voluntary environmental contributions* within the industry."
* The manufacturing industry proposes 'QR codes' instead of 'plastic labels' for plastic reduction → Mandatory from 2026
[Jeju Recycling Center]
Electronic and electrical products and solar waste panels are future waste resources containing significant amounts of critical minerals and rare metals.
In particular, to secure a stable supply in the recycling industry, suggestions for improving storage standards for solar waste panel were preemptively implemented* through active administration before legal revisions (February 28, 2024).
* Expansion of storage capacity and processing deadline for solar waste panel (from under 30 days to under 180 days)
Vice Minister Lim Sang-jun stated, "There have been cases where relevant regulations have not kept pace with the advancement and changes in recycling technology."
He added, "We will continue to identify and rationalize regulations that lag behind in the era of the circular economy."
[Bottled Water Manufacturing Plant]
As the domestic bottled water market experiences rapid growth*, complaints about groundwater shortages near manufacturing plants are increasing. There are also growing concerns among the public about the quality of bottled water and the disposal of bottled water containers.
* Over the past five years, the permitted water extraction volume has increased by 8.9%. As of 2024, there are 59 companies distributing over 210 brands in the market.
Groundwater, the source water for bottled water, is a finite common good. Therefore, managing an appropriate extraction volume takes into account factors such as its impact on the surrounding environment and its sustainable yield.
In the future, there are plans to introduce AI technology to monitor groundwater levels and quality changes in real-time, enabling more scientific management to conserve groundwater and utilize it wisely.
Furthermore, as proposed by the manufacturing industry, starting from 2026, the use of 'plastic labels' will be restricted on bottled water containers produced, and product information will be provided through bottle cap QR codes. This is expected to result in an annual reduction of 2,000 tons* of plastic.
* A scale of approximately 160 million 500 ㎖ bottled water containers
We will continue to devise institutional support measures to back up voluntary efforts from the industry for waste reduction, such as container weight reduction. This will pave the way for creating exemplary cases of the circular economy.
For further information, please contact the Public Relations Division.
Contact person: Gina Lee, foreign media spokesperson
Phone: +82-44-201-6055
Email: gcjgina@gmail.com
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