Seoul is launching a 100-day citizen participation campaign called "100-Day Household Waste Diet Challenge" starting June 3, aimed at helping residents reduce their daily waste output through self-monitoring and recording.
According to Seoul Metropolitan Government on Tuesday, the program filled its 354 participant slots within one week of opening applications on May 4. The number 354 represents the average daily household waste output per Seoul resident in grams.
The program runs in 10 cycles of 10 days each. Participants will measure their baseline waste output during the first cycle, then attempt reductions in subsequent cycles. They will weigh seven categories of waste—pay-as-you-throw bags, paper, plastic, vinyl, bottles, styrofoam, and cans—using portable electronic scales and record the data on online tracking sheets.
The city plans to encourage "visible reduction" through measurement and recording, using data to promote lifestyle changes.
Participants' activities will be shared in real-time through Instagram, posting reduction tips, reflections, and photos so other citizens can follow their progress. After the program concludes, 10 outstanding participants will receive awards from the Seoul Mayor—seven who achieve the greatest reduction in pay-as-you-throw bag waste and three with the lowest total output.
All participants will receive Eco-Mileage points based on their reduction rates: 2,000 points for 10% or more reduction, 3,000 points for 20% or more, and 5,000 points for 30% or more compared to their first-cycle baseline.
The city held orientation sessions on May 24-25 to explain the program's purpose and measurement methods to participants.
"At a time when society-wide participation is urgently needed to prepare for the direct landfill ban, this project highlights citizens' efforts to reduce household waste," said Son Young-hye, a member of the Green Seoul Citizens Committee. "We expect meaningful results in spreading excellent reduction ideas and conservation efforts."
Noh Su-im, head of the Climate and Environment Policy Division at Seoul Metropolitan Government, said, "This will be a meaningful experiment to see how much waste can be reduced when citizens' efforts come together. We deeply thank the citizens who are leading the way in creating a new model for action, and we ask for continued interest in this 100-day challenge."