Seoul's Seongdong-gu district said it is stepping up prevention and enforcement efforts against illegal household waste dumping to reduce violations and create a cleaner urban environment.
The district drew up a comprehensive 2026 plan to eliminate illegal dumping at the start of this year, pursuing 11 key initiatives across three areas: intensive management of illegal household waste dumping, oversight of the commercial waste disposal system, and building a cleaner city together with residents.
With summer bringing heightened sanitation concerns, the district has intensified on-site enforcement and public guidance since August, focusing on chronic dumping spots and busy commercial streets. Dedicated enforcement teams have been deployed to areas that generate frequent complaints — including the commercial strips in Wangsimni-doseondong, Wangsimni 2-dong, Haengdang-dong and Seongsu-dong.
The district is also operating 20 new surveillance CCTV cameras installed in June at 20 chronic dumping sites across the area, boosting deterrence against illegal disposal.
Alongside this, the district plans to inform nearby residents of designated collection days and times and other proper waste disposal practices, with the aim of establishing a culture of correct disposal.
In the first half of this year, the dedicated enforcement team handled 2,932 illegal dumping complaints and imposed fines in 1,260 of those cases — increases of 3 percent and 4 percent, respectively, compared with the same period last year.
Resident participation in related programs has also been strong. A total of 107 people took part in the illegal dumping reporting reward program through July, receiving up to 50,000 won ($35) per report. Meanwhile, 179 residents joined a cigarette butt collection incentive program, gathering 708 kilograms of discarded butts.
"Preventing illegal household waste dumping requires not only administrative effort but also the active participation of residents and business owners," district mayor Yoo Bo-hwa said. "Small everyday actions are the greatest force in building a clean city. We will pursue a balanced approach of field-focused prevention, enforcement and public outreach to make Seongdong a clean district where all residents can enjoy a pleasant daily life."
seouldream01@heraldcorp.com
