Andong City Pioneers Eco-Kind Hygiene Solutions, From Daycare Dishes to Festival Waste
Andong, Gyeongbuk Province - Andong City is making significant strides in both public health and environmental sustainability with a multi-pronged approach to hygiene and waste reduction, impacting everything from children’s mealtime to large-scale festivals. A new “Children’s House Battling Washing Presentation Project” and a successful reusable container system at recent events are showcasing the city’s commitment to a cleaner, greener future.
Launched last month in partnership with the Andong Regional Self-Support Center, the plate washing project is currently operating at four daycare centers – Cezanne, Dowon, Yedam, and Hansol – utilizing a high-temperature, high-pressure washing system alongside eco-friendly detergents and hot air sterilization. The initiative aims to alleviate hygiene concerns for parents and reduce the workload for daycare staff. The process adheres to stringent hygiene standards set by both the Ministry of Environment and the Food and Drug Management, with officials anticipating a reduction in food poisoning and infectious disease incidents.
beyond daycare centers, Andong city demonstrated the scalability of its eco-friendly approach during recent festivals. During peak periods, the city deployed an average of 800 multi-use containers daily, drastically reducing waste compared to the approximately 10,000 disposable bags used at the Andong International Mask Dance Festival last year. This innovative system has been lauded as a potential model for future eco-friendly festival operations.The initiatives have been met with enthusiastic approval from both citizens and businesses.”I specialize in the cleaning process, so I feel relieved that the plate used by the children is much cleaner,” shared one parent. Daycare centers and participating merchants have also reported a reduction in both hygiene-related burdens and waste disposal costs.
eco Washing Andong, the self-supporting company operating under the Andong Regional Self-support Center, plans to further enhance transparency and reliability by expanding collection points and providing real-time updates on the cleaning process. The company also intends to broaden its service offerings beyond daycare centers, targeting sectors like funeral homes and other areas with significant hygiene and waste management needs.
“This project is not just a cleaning support, but a sustainable model that includes the health of children and citizens, eco-friendly transitions in the region, and even the creation of vulnerable jobs,” stated Park Kyung-gu, head of the Andong Regional Self-Support Center.
Andong Mayor Kwon Ki-chang echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the city’s commitment to developing an “ESG model that leads to the creation of low-income people in connection with the self-support center.”
