GIMHAE — Gimhae City has successfully concluded its long-anticipated Jangyu Incineration Plant modernization project, raising the city's daily combustible waste processing capacity to 300 tons.

Municipal authorities announced Monday that the initiative, launched in 2023 with a budget of 119.3 billion won, involved renovating an existing 150-ton daily capacity unit and constructing an additional one. The upgrade addresses a persistent local shortfall, as the area previously generated an average of 190 tons of combustible household waste daily against a 150-ton processing limit.

Despite initial opposition from residents concerned about hosting a municipal waste facility, the city shifted public sentiment through civic forums and outreach campaigns starting in 2018.

The upgraded facility successfully passed safety and performance evaluations by the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology and the Nakdonggang Basin Environmental Office. Environmental monitoring revealed that emissions of pollutants, including dioxins and nitrogen oxides, remain below one-tenth of legally mandated thresholds.

The plant utilizes high-pressure steam turbines to generate electricity for its own operations, while surplus energy powers adjacent community amenities like the Carbon Neutrality Experience Center and the Jangyu Danuri Center, with the rest sold to the national power grid. City officials project that revenue from electricity sales and heat recovery will double next year compared to 2024 figures.

Alongside the environmental upgrades, new community infrastructure has opened, including a comprehensive sports complex featuring a swimming pool, gymnasium, and fitness center. City leadership emphasized that the project secures stable waste management capabilities for the next two decades while prioritizing public safety and community welfare.

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