<Anchor>
Reporter Kwon Ae-ri's friendly economic time.
Reporter Kwon, As the era of Corona 19 is getting longer, changes are appearing in the trash we throw out?
First of all, the amount has increased.
<Reporter>
Yes.
If you think about our life patterns after the coronavirus, you'll probably relate to it even if I don't talk longer.
Due to the explosive increase in the delivery of parcels, delivery food, and fresh food, the amount of waste in various packaging materials is unavoidably increasing.
In the first half of this year, the number of waste plastics released from the first half of last year increased by over 11% in one year.
Waste plastics increased by more than 15%.
The continued increase in the amount of waste plastics and waste plastics came out was the same before Corona, but the rate of increase is even faster.
[Kim Seo-won / Executive of a recycled waste disposal company: (The increase in the amount of recycled waste disposal) is all feeling.
Based on a 5-ton truck, an average of 5 to 6 more vehicles
are delivered
per day compared to the previous year.]
<Anchor>
Waste plastic and plastic that can be recycled are better, but the amount of waste that is difficult to recycle has increased, right?
<Reporter>
Yes.
The real big problem is that the rate of increase I just mentioned is only a fraction of the story.
This is because it is when only waste plastic or waste plastic to be recycled is selected.
What's really worrying is that the amount of waste plastics that cannot be recycled and that has to be burned or buried along with other trash is literally increasing.
First of all, the mask stands out.
The KF mask we use is plastic.
There are plastic side dishes.
That and the mask and materials are the same.
However, masks are highly contaminated because they are used by people constantly breathing.
Even if you put it in the recycling bin, you cannot recycle it.
There are already more than 4 billion masks produced after the first corona 19 confirmed in Korea this year.
Many of these haven't even opened their packaging yet.
Anyway, one day, all of them will not be recycled and will be plastic waste that must be buried.
The same goes for paper cups.
Prior to the corona, the paper cup was being reduced by policy.
They didn't serve paper cups well unless they were taking out at a coffee shop.
But now, because of the risk of infection, this has become insignificant when you stop using paper cups even when sitting in a store and drinking.
Beverage paper cups are also coated and highly contaminated, making it difficult to use as a recycled material.
There are many others.
Items that have rapidly increased in use since the coronavirus, such as wet wipes and disposable gloves that are used much more than before, are all waste plastics that cannot be recycled.
<Anchor>
Actually, that doesn't mean you can't avoid using these things.
It seems like a problem that has to be held for a considerable period of time.
<Reporter>
Yes.
You can't stop using a mask just because it's not recycled.
Some say it is okay to wear a cotton mask where the risk of contamination is not that high.
That's also when the environmental conditions are right, and KF masks are the most reliable, effective, and inexpensive way to stop infections in the current technology, but we can't use them.
The situation is similar for the other products I mentioned.
In the end, the first thing that can be reduced is a little less.
Secondly, when we collect recyclable plastic waste well, we have no choice but to return to the basics.
When disposing of recyclable garbage, it is said that just by washing it well so that it doesn't get on it and removing the sticker attached to it, you can contribute to increasing the recycling rate.
Since it is a friendly economy, in terms of consumption life, there are some places that take care of recyclable packaging and packaging with reduced packaging material among courier and fresh food delivery companies these days.
If possible, the consumer segment is also more active in asking companies for this.
Also, if it seems clear that you take it as one of the points you choose, the companies will pay more attention.
Also, from the end of last month, the Ministry of Environment and a large mart started a pilot project to refill and use detergent containers.
Reusing the original can is forbidden due to contamination or sanitation issues.
It is not always possible to do this at any time, but we have developed and approved a dedicated product that can be refilled.
For example, when you buy 6,900 won of detergent, use it all, take an empty container and refill it, you only need to buy the contents again, so you only have to pay 4,500 won.
Or, if you buy an empty container for 500 won and fill it with detergent, you only pay 5,000 won for the two.
However, this is a little saving, but it is possible, so even when you are not thinking about the environment, you may be interested.
In this way, it would be nice to develop products or services that naturally induce eco-friendly consumption.