Seoul has undergone remarkable urban development, yet spaces for waste disposal and collection have often been minimised or hidden, treated as secondary facilities. Household waste, including general, recyclable, and food waste, is an inevitable by-product of daily activities. Although efforts have primarily focused on waste treatment facilities after collection, there is an increasing need to develop spaces that support resource circulation within residential areas.
Despite being a global city, Seoul faces persistent issues with insufficient resource circulation spaces and inadequate management systems, which hinder citizens’ waste separation activities and negatively impact urban aesthetics and the environment.
This study aims to address these challenges by proposing strategies for improving resource circulation spaces in Seoul. The research focuses on ensuring equitable access to waste separation facilities for all residents by analysing best practices, conducting case studies, and collaborating with experts in resource circulation, urban planning, and urban regeneration. Priority is given to high-demand areas such as single-family homes, multi-family housing, traditional market vicinities, and public parks.
The study categorises resource circulation spaces into three prototypes: basic types located near roads and parking lots, integrated types within low-rise residential buildings, and community-based facilities within walking distances. Through field surveys and evaluation, the study conducts a preliminary selection of priority types that are most suited for pilot implementation in the Seoul context. It also draws upon domestic and international examples, such as New York’s Zero Waste Guidelines, Jeju’s AI-enabled recycling centres, and the Seodaemun Alley Management Office, to develop design models and operational guidelines tailored to Seoul’s urban environment.
Policy recommendations include institutionalising resource circulation spaces as social overhead capital (SOC), incorporating them into Seoul's urban and residential environment improvement ordinances, and promoting pilot projects to validate their effectiveness. These efforts aim to enhance citizen convenience, urban aesthetics, and environmental sustainability, laying the groundwork for Seoul to become a sustainable circular city.