Talking Trash...Bags

Most households in South Korea can't simply buy a roll of 100 standard white "kitchen garbage bags" at the supermarket. Why? On January 1, 1995 the Ministry of Environment introduced a “volume-based waste fee” system (VBWF), where all households and commercial building owners are required to purchase specially designed plastic bags for waste collection. Called Sseulaegi Bongtu (쓰 레 기 봉 투), these garbage bags cost upwards of 1,050 won (almost $1) for a single 50 liter (kitchen garbage can sized) bag.

Specialized bags are also available for wet food waste. For disposal of large objects, a sticker must be purchased from the county or city district offices. The price of the sticker varies by municipality based on the type and size of the item being thrown out.

The cost of purchasing these bags is intended to pay for the garbage disposal, but in fact it aids environmental efforts to reduce the overall level of garbage being thrown out. Because each household has to pay a premium for each garbage bag, they are less inclined to throw otherwise recyclable or compostable objects into the trash, lest they fill up the bag more quickly. Violators of the system face a fine of 500,000 won.

Concerns can be raised about the environmental effects of the production of these bags, as opposed to using a system of bins for trash collection or allowing the re-use of bags used to carry grocery store items home. According to the 2003 Korea Environmental Policy Bulletin, the composition of VBWF bags are PE (polyethylene), PE with more than 30 percent of biodegradable resin (bags used for food waste compost) or PE with more than 30 percent of calcium carbonate (for trash that is incinerated). In 2002, reusable VBWF bags were instituted, and can be purchased at grocery stores to carry purchased goods and later be used as regular VBWF bags when disposing garbage. The use of vinyl bag to carry purchased goods can thus be reduced.

Has it worked?

Urban Renewal and Designer Shoes

Palladium Boots, a company founded in 1920 to produce tires for the aviation industry. After demand fell drastically after WWII, they re-invented themselves as a shoe company by re-fashioning their rubber-and-canvas product into the strongest soles on the market.

Their evolution as a company appears to have piqued their interest in other "revivals," including cities like Detroit, and have created a 3-part video series on the city starring Johnny Knoxville.

"Once the fourth-largest metropolis in America—some have called it the Death of the American Dream. Today, the young people of the Motor City are making it their own DIY paradise where rules are second to passion and creativity. They are creating the new Detroit on their own terms, against real adversity. We put our boots on and went exploring."

Reactions to the films have been mostly positive. Nolan Finley, editorial page editor for the Detroit News, acknowledged that the city's young "creative underground" plays an important role, albeit not the only role, in the revitalization of the city.

"I'm still not sure they're the answer for renewing Detroit. But as downtown businessman Larry Mongo says in the documentary, "They're filling some of the gaps." Whatever plan emerges from Mayor Dave Bing's land-use hearings shouldn't choke off their energy and enthusiasm with red tape. What we've done for 40 years hasn't worked; we may as well give them their shot."From The Detroit News, September 26, 2010