Discarded Plastic Bottles Turned to Cash? Uiwang Launches Unmanned Recycling Collection Kiosks

Uiwang City (Mayor Kim Seong-je) will operate "unmanned recycling collection kiosks" at 8 locations throughout the city starting on the 22nd to promote separated waste disposal.

The unmanned recycling collection kiosk is a device that accumulates points on a mobile app when recyclables are inserted and converts the points to cash once a certain amount is accumulated.

Collection items are limited to transparent PET bottles. When citizens remove labels from PET bottles, rinse them clean, and insert beverage-use transparent PET bottles into the device, 10 points are accumulated per bottle. Once 2,000 points or more are accumulated, users can apply for cash conversion through the app.

The unmanned kiosk operation locations are ▲Gocheon-dong Community Center ▲Uiwang City Youth Training Center ▲Bugok Sports Center ▲Ojeon-ro Family Park ▲Gyewon University Road ▲Naesom 2-dong Community Center ▲Poil Sports Center ▲Baegun Community Center, totaling 8 locations. The devices also apply a barrier-free model for convenient use by people with disabilities and everyone else.

To use the device, users must install the 'Superbin' app, register as a member, visit the nearest unmanned kiosk, and authenticate as a user. Accumulated points can be checked immediately on the app.

Additionally, by clicking the "Receive Carbon Neutral Points" banner on the app and registering on the carbon-neutral points green lifestyle practice website, users can accumulate an additional 300 points per 50 transparent PET bottles.

According to the transparent PET bottle separate disposal system implemented since December 2020, transparent PET bottles must be separated from general plastic waste. Transparent PET bottles are classified as high-quality resources that can be recycled into textile materials and other products.

Mayor Kim Seong-je stated, "We will continue to discover projects to promote separated waste disposal among citizens and establish the practice of resource circulation, thereby developing Uiwang City as a leading city in the circular economy."