Songpa-gu district sends fallen leaves to Namiseom island to save costs

Songpa-gu district officials in Seoul, South Korea, transported 5 metric tons of yellow ginkgo leaves to Namiseom, an island in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province.

This initiative began in 2006 and marks the 21st year of a partnership between the city district and the island to recycle fallen foliage. Workers transported the leaves from the streets of Songpa-gu to a dock where they boarded a cargo ferry.

Upon arrival at the island, workers spread the leaves across the Songpa Ginkgo Tree Lane, a popular filming location for the drama series Winter Sonata. The project helps the district manage its waste by avoiding incineration fees. Songpa-gu officials stated that incinerating one metric ton of leaves costs approximately 170,000 won ($128). By sending the 5 tons of leaves to the island instead of burning them, the district saved an estimated 850,000 won in fees.

The district also provides about 600 metric tons of fallen leaves annually to farms in the Seoul metropolitan area for use as compost or insulation. The leaves will remain on the island path for about one month before workers collect them again to turn into compost for the island. Mayor Seo Kang-seok said the project supports tourism and local farms while promoting resource recycling.