Seoul's Songpa-gu, led by district mayor Seo Gang-seok, will debut its integrated waste sorting map Tuesday, consolidating household waste and recycling information into a single interactive map for residents.
According to the Seoul Institute, the daily average volume of household waste in Seoul fell 8.5 percent over the past decade, while waste disposed of in pay-per-bag garbage bags rose 15.6 percent over the same period. The diverging trend — overall waste down, pay-per-bag waste up — has made proper waste sorting increasingly important.
Residents, however, have long found the process cumbersome. Disposal methods, locations and fees vary by waste type, forcing people to look up information separately or call the district office each time.
In response, the district consolidated scattered waste disposal information into one platform so residents can check disposal options near their homes directly on a map. The launch is timed to coincide with Resource Recycling Day on Sept. 6, with the aim of raising awareness about proper waste sorting and making it easier for residents to practice in daily life.
The map covers eight categories of information. It displays collection days for household waste, recyclables and food waste by residential area, as well as the locations of pay-per-bag garbage bag vendors, unmanned recycling collection machines, fluorescent lamp and battery drop-off bins, dedicated used-battery bins, secondary battery bins for items such as portable chargers, and pharmaceutical waste collection points.
The map also helps residents navigate the often-confusing rules around bulky-item disposal — clearly distinguishing between free and fee-based options and listing charges by item type. Items that can be reused are directed to an upcycling center.
Using the map is straightforward. Selecting a category displays collection bin and vendor locations across the district, and residents can also search for the nearest facility based on their current location. No app download is required — the map is accessible directly through a web browser or can be added to a smartphone home screen to function like an app.
To ensure accuracy, the district consolidated location data previously managed separately by individual departments and plans to update the map continuously to reflect changes such as new or relocated collection bins.
"It is the role of local government to pay close attention even to the small inconveniences residents face in daily life," district mayor Seo said. "We will continue delivering resident-centered services so that people can practice resource recycling more easily and conveniently through the integrated waste sorting map."
The Songpa-gu integrated waste sorting map will be available to anyone via smartphone or PC starting Tuesday. The web address and QR code will be posted on the Songpa-gu district office website and in the "Songpa News" bulletin.
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