Noh Kug-lae, center, head of LG Chem's petrochemical business, poses with Siheung Mayor Lim Byeong-taek, right, and Siheung Urban Corporation CEO Jeong Dong-seon after signing a memorandum of understanding on recycling the city's waste at Siheung's City Hall in Gyeonggi Province, March 31. Courtesy of LG Chem

By Baek Byung-yeul

LG Chem has forged a partnership with Siheung, Gyeonggi Province, to recycle plastic waste generated in the city, the chemical arm of LG Group said, Friday.

The company said it signed a memorandum of understanding with the Siheung City Government and Siheung Urban Corporation at the city's headquarters on March 31.

"The three sides agreed on the need to establish a virtuous cycle for plastic resources and decided to promote the recycling of waste generated in Siheung city as clean resources," the company said.

Under the agreement, the city will conduct promotional activities for its citizens and introduce related policies to establish a virtuous recycling system. Siheung Urban Corporation will carry out research and development with LG Chem to advance the waste screening processes this year, using a waste-sorting site operated by the city-run organization.

LG Chem will conduct R&D to recycle waste resources and create a circulating economy using its supercritical hydrolysis plant. It will also release various kinds of products made with recycled waste materials.

The chemical company has been conducting research on resource circulation such as biodegradable plastic and used cooking oil. It also announced the establishment of a supercritical hydrolysis plant for the first time in Korea.

"This agreement is meaningful in creating a win-win with local governments by using incinerated or discarded waste," said Noh Kug-lae, head of LG Chem's petrochemical business. "We will continue to expand cooperation with local governments to accelerate the establishment of a plastic recycling economy."

Siheung Mayor Lim Byeong-taek said he hopes "the agreement will transform Siheung City into the nation's first eco city that reuses 100 percent of recycled waste."