The Food Waste Problem in Pohang
Handong Global University
As a student at Handong Global University, I have come to realize that our host city, Pohang, is dealing with a pretty serious environmental headache right now: an escalating food waste crisis.
Overview
There are a few clear reasons why this has become such a big issue. For one thing, Pohang hasn't been able to build its own large-scale processing facility due to constant local conflicts and administrative delays. This means the city has to ship its waste to other regions, which costs a fortune. On top of that, because Pohang is a coastal city famous for tourism and seafood markets, we get a huge influx of visitors during peak seasons. This seasonal spike in restaurant activity creates a massive amount of organic waste that the current collection system just can't keep up with. Finally, in many of the older residential neighborhoods, people still aren't used to careful waste separation, and there just aren't enough RFID smart bins installed yet.
Plan
To tackle this, we need a strategy that combines better infrastructure with everyday citizen action. First, the city needs to push forward with the delayed bio-gasification facility. Processing the waste locally and turning it into renewable energy would solve both the financial and environmental issues. At the same time, expanding RFID smart bins to all residential areas is crucial. When people are charged strictly by the weight of what they throw away, it naturally encourages them to minimize waste at home.
Execute
To turn this plan into action, I want to start by gathering real feedback from the local community. I can design and run surveys to see how residents in different neighborhoods actually handle their food waste and figure out what makes proper separation difficult for them. I also think it’s important to talk to local restaurant owners and market vendors. Surveying them will help evaluate whether the city’s current collection schedules and support systems are actually working on the ground, or if they need to be fixed.
If you want to know more about me, please refer to my introduction on this GGS Platform
https://saebeomi.blogspot.com/2026/05/handong-friend-sunho-hwang-from-pohang.html.
1. Causes and Current Situation of the Local Problem — Very Appropriate
ReplyDeleteThe project clearly explains Pohang’s food waste problem by connecting it to several specific causes, such as the lack of local processing facilities, an increase in tourists, growing food waste from restaurants, and the limited number of RFID smart bins.
2. Use of Visual Materials — Very Appropriate
The project uses relevant photos to visually show the current food waste problem in Pohang, making the issue easier to understand.
3. Feasibility of the Proposed Solutions — High
The project suggests realistic solutions, including building a biogas facility and expanding RFID smart bins. It also proposes actions that students can directly carry out, such as conducting surveys with residents, restaurant owners, and market vendors.
4. Effectiveness of the Proposed Solutions — High
The project considers both improving the food waste treatment system and reducing the amount of waste produced. Surveys can also help identify the actual difficulties faced by local residents and provide useful information for improving the current system.
Overall Reason for Selection:
I selected this project because it analyzes Pohang’s food waste problem from several specific perspectives and presents relevant photos, realistic solutions, and practical research activities that students can directly carry out.
ReplyDelete* Clear & Important Problem (Very Good): Accurately diagnoses Pohang's unique waste challenges—a lack of local processing facilities causing high outsourcing costs, seasonal food waste spikes from tourism/seafood markets, and insufficient RFID smart bins in older neighborhoods.
* Feasibility of Solution (Good): Highly realistic execution model that pairs municipal infrastructure goals (biogasification, RFID expansion) with immediate, student-led field surveys to gather ground-level feedback from residents, market vendors, and restaurant owners.
* Sustainability of Solution (Good): Promotes a circular economy model (converting organic waste to renewable energy) and long-term behavioral reduction by charging waste strictly by weight through expanded RFID smart bins.
* Clarity & Persuasiveness of Plan (Good): Demonstrates strong, data-driven logic connecting root cause analysis (Overview) directly to infrastructure strategy (Plan) and hands-on community feedback collection (Execute).