Starting in July, residents of Chuncheon in Gangwon Province will be able to exchange recyclable materials for points redeemable as cash or transit card credits.
Under the city's face-to-face recycling rewards project, residents bring in recyclables, which are weighed on-site, and points are issued based on the type and weight of the materials.
The program will launch as a pilot at the Sinbuk Recycling Help Center in July, with the aim of spreading proper waste-sorting habits and encouraging resource circulation.
The center is located at 54 Saemteurak-gil, Chuncheon, and is open on weekdays from noon to 4 p.m.
Eligible items are those with high recycling value: transparent PET bottles, standard paper cartons, aseptic cartons, steel cans and aluminum cans.
To participate, residents must download the "Jawonsunhwan IOT" app on their smartphones, sign up for an account and bring in clean, properly sorted recyclables.
Staff weigh the materials on the spot and credit points according to per-item standards. Accumulated points can be redeemed for cash or used to top up a transit card.
Chuncheon said it will analyze participation rates and operational results during the pilot period to determine whether to expand the project. "We hope this face-to-face rewards pilot will help spread the awareness that waste is a resource with real monetary value," a city official said, adding that the city encourages residents to actively take part in resource recycling in their daily lives.
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