Free grating filters installed at nine high-traffic zones — including Yeongdeungpo Station and major traditional markets — to block cigarette butts and food waste from entering storm drains
Yeongdeungpo-gu has signed an MOU with KT&G and completed the installation of 1,000 storm drain grating filters designed to prevent cigarette butts from clogging the district's drainage system.
Storm drains are a critical part of urban drainage infrastructure, channeling rainwater into sewer lines. In areas dense with restaurants, however, residents have long complained of foul odors and poor drainage caused by cigarette butts and food waste being discarded into the drains.
The problem prompted some merchants to cover the drains with floor mats or rubber bins to block the smell — a makeshift fix identified as a major flood risk, as the improvised covers obstruct water flow during heavy rain.
In response, the district secured 1,000 drain filters valued at 150 million won through KT&G's corporate social responsibility program and completed the installation at no cost to the public.
The filters were placed at nine zones within the district's priority drain-cleaning areas — locations with heavy foot traffic and high concentrations of restaurants, including areas around Yeongdeungpo Station, Yeouido Station, Dangsan Station and Daerim Station.
The grating filters clip onto existing drain covers without any construction work. They effectively block cigarette butts, food scraps, autumn leaves and other debris while keeping the drains' original drainage function intact.
The district plans to monitor the filters over the next year, tracking their effectiveness at blocking waste, drainage performance and ease of maintenance before deciding whether to expand the program.
"Installing 1,000 grating filters has strengthened our flood-prevention infrastructure in a practical way," a district official said. "We will work to eliminate the unauthorized covering of drains and keep foreign matter out, so we can prevent flood damage and maintain clean road conditions."
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