As concerns grow over a potential nationwide shortage of pay-as-you-throw garbage bags driven by raw material supply disruptions stemming from the Middle East conflict, the city of Suncheon in South Jeolla Province is drawing attention for its proactive administrative preparedness.
An official from Suncheon's Sanitation and Resources Division said Wednesday that "raw materials for pay-as-you-throw bag production have been secured preemptively, so there will be absolutely no problem with the supply of bags in 2026."
Suncheon currently holds one month's worth of finished bag inventory and a full year's supply of production materials.
Since the early stages of the Middle East conflict, the city has coordinated with its bag manufacturer to preemptively secure necessary supplies of virgin and recycled synthetic resins — the primary raw materials for bag production — and the materials have already been delivered to the manufacturing facility. Production and supply are proceeding normally in line with demand.
Suncheon plans to continue monitoring the supply situation for pay-as-you-throw bags and ensure thorough management of distribution through retail outlets to maintain a stable supply.