Seoul City is projected to see the expiration date of the Sudoggwon Landfill extended after yielding its ownership of the nation’s largest waste management facility to Incheon City.
While the capital city had asked Incheon City to cooperate in extending the expiry year from the scheduled 2016 to 2044, the latter has suggested several prerequisites, including the management rights, for the renewal.
According to the Ministry of Environment, the two parties on Friday reached a consensus on the prerequisites, adding that Gyeonggi Province, which also shares the landfill usage along with the two cities, has given its nod to the deal.
“The prerequisites include practical support for surrounding districts of the Sudoggwon Landfill,” a ministry official said. “Extension of the expiry date will likely be confirmed after fine-tuning the details.”
A key issue that remains is to placate citizens in Incheon and Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province.
Seoul takes up to 44 percent of its waste to the landfill, a joint facility located across Seo-gu district in Incheon and Yangchon-myeon district in Gimpo City. The 20.7-square-meter landfill does not fall in any district in Seoul.
The Sudoggwon Landfill opened in 1992 to replace the now-closed Nanjido Landfill in western Seoul.
Regardless of the possible extension, Incheon City and the Environment Ministry have opened discussions on whether to relocate the metropolitan landfill after several years.
An island in Ongjin-gun county, located in western Incheon, is being mentioned as a strong candidate for the next landfill location to take waste from Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province.
A large number of Ongjin residents have expressed their opposition to the plan.
Meanwhile, city authorities have already assessed Yeongheungdo Island in Ongjin. Other candidates include Muuido-Silmido islands in Jung-gu district, Incheon, and Modo-Sido-Sindo islands in Ongjin-gun county.
