Gyeongi-do Gov. Lee Jae-myung shakes hands with Incheon Mayor Park Nam-chun after they issued a joint statement following their meeting on Sept. 25. (Photo: Gyeonggi-do provincial govt.)

Incheon and Gyeonggi-do have joined forces in to solve the pending issues of the Sudokwon landfill site and to jointly realize a goal of being a “resources cycling super city.”

Incheon Mayor Park Nam-chun and Gyeongi-do Gov. Lee Jae-myung held a meeting at the Gyeonggi-do provincial government building on Sept. 25 and announced a joint statement to that effect.

Prior to the issuance of the statement, Incheon Mayor Park said in his talks with Gov. Lee, “I’m confidant of your deeply sympathizing with the position of Incheon citizens being annoyed by the Sodokwon landfill site and providing support.”

Gov. Lee said, “I’m sympathizing with the agony of Incheon citizens who have suffered for the past 27 years due to the Sudokwon landfill site, and the Environment Ministry and three cities and province have to jointly set up an alternative landfill site to brace for the expiry of the use of the Sudokwon landfill site’s Block 3-1.”

In the statement, the two sides agreed to share a critical mind of the current status of the Sukdokwon landfill site, explore the reasons for the delayed construction of an alternative landfill site and adopt a resolution toward a principle of polluter waste treatment and the construction of an eco-friendly alternative landfill site.

They also agreed to make joint efforts to solve the pending issues of the Sudokwon landfill site and create a just society and a “resources cycling super city.”

The local autonomous governments shared the view that the Sudokwon landfill site is facing anti-environmental operation problems, such as the dumping of life waste, worksite waste and construction waste. The waste is required to be recycled, even though only incineration ashes and nonflammable waste need to be taken in.

They also shared the view that each district needs to treat its own waste, and they agreed to build an “eco-friendly landfill site” that does not emit bad odors, dust, waste water and pollutants.

The two sides demanded that the central government implement innovative policies to dramatically reduce waste from the stage of production and distribution and to eventually construct an alternative landfill site.

Incheon City spokesperson Kim Eun-kyung said it is more important for three city and provincial governments to participate in a project to build the alternative landfill site under the leadership of the Environment Ministry.

In the course of the implementation of the project, there are lots of issues to be tackled, such as matters related to the central government, the coordination of sharp conflicts and disputes among the three local governments and the solution of strife with neighborhood residents.