Turning Unrecyclable Treasures into Breathtaking Works of Art
Yangyang Upcycling Center CEO Jeon Ok-rang
People flock to Yangyang, a ‘surfing mecca’. Imported alcohol bottle waste is increasing rapidly. Colors and raw materials vary, only landfill possible. Rebirth of vases, lighting, earrings, etc. Online sales begin at the end of the year.
Last year, approximately 4.161 billion soju, beer, and beverage bottles were shipped domestically. Of these, 97.1% (4.038 billion) were reused. Imported alcohol bottles, including imported beer, are excluded from these statistics. This is because the colors and raw materials are diverse and cannot be recycled domestically. Instead, it is disposed of by burying it in a landfill as general waste. Empty bottles are environmental pollutants that take more than 4,000 years to naturally decompose. Because it is larger in volume compared to other wastes, there is a problem of hastening the saturation point of the landfill.
Yangyang Upcycling Center, located in Hyeonnam-myeon, Yangyang-gun, Gangwon-do, is a place where empty bottles that cannot be recycled are upcycled (upcycled) into accessories or interior products. It is operated by Yangyang Upcycling Co., Ltd., which was founded mainly by local residents. It began in earnest in 2022 when Yangyang-gun was selected for the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport‘s smart city innovation technology discovery project (citizen-led living lab type).
Jeon Ok-rang, CEO of Yangyang Upcycling Co., Ltd., recently met with Maeil Business Newspaper and explained, “We have upcycled approximately 5,000 empty bottles over the past two years. Although it is insignificant compared to the amount generated, we are using it as a priming material to change the perception of tourists.” He added, “7,000 people participated in the environmental education provided by the center.”
Yangyang, with a population of 28,000, is seeing a rapid increase in tourists as its coasts, including Jukdo and Ingu Beach, are known as surfing spots. As a result, waste also increased significantly. According to Yangyang-gun, more than 200,000 bottles of imported alcohol are consumed annually in the region. An average of 20 tons of non-combustible waste, including empty bottles, is generated daily. The capacity of the Yangyang area landfill is 68,000 tons, which can be used for about 10 years, but as the amount of waste increases, the saturation point is also getting closer.
This is why residents take the lead in collecting empty imported bottles. The center provides a refund of 150 won per bottle to those who bring in imported empty bottles. The revenue from sales of upcycled products is the source of finance. Each person can receive a refund for up to 100 bottles per year. This limitation was created because there is a limit to the amount of empty bottles that can be processed through upcycling rather than financial resources. In addition, some tasks, such as bottle washing, are linked to self-reliance centers to revitalize the local economy.
The process of upcycling empty bottles is similar to glass crafting. After ultrasonic cleaning, cutting and processing, it is reborn into various products. The DASH herb bottle, which is sold together with herb seedlings, is being promoted as a flagship product because all parts of the bottle can be used. Accessories such as ‘nulplate’, a bowl made by melting a bottle in a high-temperature oven, and windshields, lights, and earrings made of glass pieces are also gaining popularity with consumers. Local tourists are the main customers, but we plan to open a smart store by the end of the year and begin online sales in earnest.
Recently, we are exploring ways to use shredded glass in large quantities as building materials. We are also planning to upcycle other waste materials, including discarded surfboards, fishing nets, and vinyl. Representative Jeon said, “In the case of Yangyang-gun, the amount of waste resources generated is so high even during normal times, not during the peak season, that we are paying money to other local governments to dispose of it.” He added, “It is difficult to use up these wastes beyond the accumulated amount through upcycling alone, so materialization is essential.”