Gov't installs 30 new trash cans around Seoul

Newly designed trash cans are installed near the Seoul City Hall. [SEOUL METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT]

The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Monday that it has installed 30 newly designed trash cans around the popular spots in the capital.

The newly designed trash cans will be seen in 15 locales, including areas near Seoul City Hall, Dongdaemun Design Plaza and Marronnier Park in central Seoul.

Of the 15 areas, five are in Jung District and eight are in Jongno District, central Seoul. Two are in Dongdaemun District in eastern Seoul.

The new trash cans feature eye-catching colors and a wider opening, making it easier to dispose of and collect waste, according to the city government.

The new project was part of Seoul’s initiatives to become an “enjoyable and energetic” city.

The project was adapted to the opinions of citizens who complained that the original public trash cans' standardized square openings were too small to dispose of certain shapes of waste.

Seoul has also always had a littering problem, with empty soda cans, masks, flyers and tissues being reported in the baskets of Seoul's Ttareungyi public rental bikes due to the lack of public trash cans.

The city collaborated with citizens, environmental officials and experts to find a design that would improve the city's image and eliminate the various impacts of outdoor litter, such as bad odors and obstructed scenery.

As a result, two types of trash cans were designed — one with a simple shape and one with a smiley face.

The city said that it focused on convenience and recognizability, but also considered cleanliness and symbolism.

The city choose a bright green color for the trash cans, and raised their height, in service of convenience and recognizability. For cleanliness and symbolism, the city widened the cans' entry slot and added the smiley face.

Seoul distributed the simple design, as a demonstration, before initiating the project on a wider scale.

The city government added that the trash cans have an interchangeable top, like a hat, that can be swapped for special occasions.

The cans can hold amounts ranging from 75 liters (20 gallons) to 100 liters.

The city added that the trash can was designed to allow officials to quickly and easily gather the garbage inside using a lightweight material and simple structure.

The city plans to complement the design based on the reviews by citizens and officials, considering factors such as aesthetics, convenience and harmonization with the surrounding area, and to expand the project to additional districts.

“The new design was made incorporating factors including the city scenery and convenience,” said Choi In-gyu, head of the city government's Design Policy Bureau. “It is expected to play a significant role in enhancing the quality of the city life.”

BY KIM JI-YE [kim.jiye@joongang.co.kr]