How Songpa-gu Achieved Top Recycling Awards: Insights into Efficient Waste Management

Daniel Kim | 2026.03.29

Translation result. Songpa District won the top prize in the public sorting facilities category and received an encouragement award for efforts to expand disposal, collection, and recycling in Seoul’s municipal recycling performance assessment.

   ▲Sorting of recyclables in Songpa District. Photo courtesy of Songpa District
  ▲Sorting of recyclables in Songpa District. Photo courtesy of Songpa District

Seoul City and the Korea Recycling Resource Distribution Support Center conducted the assessment together, examining sorting quality, processing efficiency, the creation of separate-disposal infrastructure, and efforts to expand recycling. The evaluation was divided into two categories: public sorting facilities and initiatives to expand disposal, collection, and recycling.

On March 29, the district said Songpa maintained a processing capacity exceeding 50 tons per day (about 55.1 short tons) and achieved a sorting rate of 75.7%, earning high marks for both efficiency and quality. Officials pointed to the introduction of a robot-arm automated sorting system and upgrades to the sorting line as key contributors.

In the disposal, collection, and recycling expansion category, Songpa strengthened a resident-driven recovery system and collected 75 tons of paper cartons (about 82.7 short tons). The district also operated a direct-reward program for paper cartons at 27 locations to encourage proper source separation.

Songpa said the results reflect balanced performance across all stages, from disposal through sorting and recycling.