Upcycling Plaza promotes commodites from garbage
Seoul generates an average of 42,000 tons of waste every day.
Much of it gets collected before being incinerated, dried and buried to generate energy or animal feed.
Some of it finds its way back into the market, and the Seoul Upcycling Plaza which opened in eastern Seoul last week shows how to get new life from waste with added beauty and practicality.
Upcycling refers to recycling goods to create new value-added objects.
Among featured upcycled goods are wine bottles turned into plates, chairs made of bathroom tiles, business card holders made of milk cartons, toys made of plastic bottles, hats made of recycled car tires and chandeliers made with plastic bottles. The beauty and creativeness of the objects are impressive enough.
The plaza is a part of the city’s “zero-waste” endeavor targeted to be realized by 2030.
“This facility showcases the healthy cycle of waste around us,” Mayor Park Won-soon said during the opening ceremony held on Tuesday. “This is Seoul’s future. And the Seoul Upcycling Plaza will serve as the powerhouse for the city’s drive.”
The goods on display are made by 32 small companies which work to make value out of upcycled goods. With public awareness of the concept not so great, most of the companies struggle financially and rely on donations and public help — the plaza also provides them with affordable space to work and display their goods.
Touch for Good makes bags using recycled banners. Glassbone is the maker of glass bottles turned into plates and it will also offer public workshops. East Indigo makes bags, hats, patchwork bears and webbing chairs using recycled jeans.
As well as finished goods, visitors can also get a glimpse of the upcycling process.
The underground level features people sorting clothes, CDs, computers, books, electronic appliances and other goods. The room next door is a storage unit where businesses come to find recycled goods.
On the second floor of the building, visitors can get the general idea about waste management — nationwide, 400,000 tons of garbage is produced per day on average.
Seoul Upcycling Plaza took more than two years to build.
The location was purposely chosen because of the Jungnang wastewater management facility which was the nation’s first such treatment plant.
Currently, the facility treats wastewater underground, while at ground level it is covered with the upcycling facility and a public park.
But that makes the Seoul Upcycling Plaza less accessible.
Dapsimni and Janghanpyeong stations on Line 5 are the two nearest stations, and the plaza is approximately 1.5 kilometers from both. A shuttle bus runs from Jang-hanpyeong Station every 30 minutes. Visit seoulup.or.kr for more information about the plaza and a tour.