In a recent decision by South Korea's Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Environment, it has been announced that an exceptional allotment of 163,000 tons of daily waste from the Seoul Metropolitan Area will be directly landfilled at the Incheon landfill. This decision comes amid a public incineration facility maintenance period and represents approximately 31% of the average direct landfill amount over the past year.

Direct landfilling of daily waste has been largely prohibited since January 1, unless under urgent circumstances such as disasters or shutdowns of waste disposal facilities. The current situation necessitates this exception to prevent an increase in dependence on private waste management services. The monthly maintenance of public incineration facilities has prompted this move, indicating that the local authorities are keen to manage waste responsibly while addressing immediate operational challenges.

The specific allotment for direct landfilling has been set according to the needs of different regions: 82,335 tons from Seoul, 35,566 tons from Incheon, and 45,415 tons from Gyeonggi Province. Despite this measure, the authorities plan to gradually reduce the amount of waste directed to landfills in the coming years, highlighting a commitment to sustainable waste management practices in the region.