Yangsan City in South Gyeongsang Province is moving to reduce prices of its volume-based garbage bags, currently the most expensive in the nation.
The city announced on the 15th that it has introduced a proposed amendment to the "Yangsan City Waste Management Ordinance" aimed at lowering garbage bag prices.
The price cut comes eight years after the last increase in 2018. The city plans to implement the reduced prices starting May 1, pending approval at the city council's extraordinary session scheduled for the 16th.
The most commonly used 20-liter bags will drop from 950 won to 780 won, a reduction of 170 won (17.9%). The 10-liter bags will decrease from 500 won to 400 won, a 100-won reduction. The 30-liter bags will see the largest cut, falling from 1,500 won to 1,160 won, down 340 won. However, some items including burlap-type bags with higher production costs will maintain current prices.
Yangsan's 20-liter garbage bag price was nearly double both the national average of 539 won and the South Gyeongsang Province average of 517 won. The main reason cited is the city's "pyrolysis melting" incineration method, which costs more than three times as much as the "stoker method" commonly used by other municipalities. This earned Yangsan the unwanted distinction of having the nation's most expensive garbage bags.
"We plan to convert to the more efficient stoker incineration system by 2031," a Yangsan city official said. "As operating costs are expected to decrease significantly in the mid-to-long term, we decided to reduce the burden on residents first by reflecting anticipated changes in advance."