North Gyeongsang Provincial Assembly member Choi Deok-gyu. [North Gyeongsang Provincial Assembly]
North Gyeongsang Provincial Assembly member Choi Deok-gyu. [North Gyeongsang Provincial Assembly]

The North Gyeongsang Provincial Assembly announced Monday that lawmaker Choi Deok-gyu, who represents Gyeongju and chairs the Special Ethics Committee, has introduced what is believed to be the country's first provincial ordinance aimed at properly managing and recycling agricultural produce illegally dumped near farmland and rivers.

Rural areas across North Gyeongsang Province have long struggled with farmers discarding low-value or unsellable crops on agricultural land and along waterways, causing persistent problems including foul odors and water pollution.

In response, Choi introduced the ordinance to establish a legal framework for converting abandoned produce into eco-friendly resources such as liquid fertilizer, animal feed and bioenergy, with the goal of protecting the rural environment and promoting resource circulation.

The ordinance outlines a range of measures: drawing up support plans and conducting field investigations; establishing and operating resource recovery centers and processing facilities; subsidizing collection, transport and disposal costs; inspecting and managing areas prone to repeat dumping; and building farmer education, public outreach and inter-agency cooperation systems.

The ordinance is scheduled for a final vote at a plenary session on Thursday.

"I hope this ordinance will help preserve a clean rural environment and promote resource circulation, further strengthening the sustainability and competitiveness of North Gyeongsang agriculture," Choi said.


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