Clearing 1.5 Tons of Agricultural Waste: A Large-Scale Cleanup Effort in Cheongdo

Shincheonji Volunteer Group Mobilizes 300 Volunteers to Support Local Farmers

As winter approaches and labor becomes scarce in rural areas, agricultural waste often piles up in orchards, farms, and village roadsides. In Cheongdo County, Gyeongsangbuk-do, this long-standing challenge was tackled head-on through a large-scale environmental cleanup led by the Shincheonji Volunteer Group.

On December 1, three regional volunteer networks—the Daegu–Gyeongbuk Union, Busan–Gyeongnam West Union, and Busan–Gyeongnam East Union—joined forces in Cheongdo’s Hyeon-ri, Punggak-myeon to remove agricultural waste and improve the village environment.

300 Volunteers, One Purpose: Supporting Farmers in Winter

More than 300 volunteers were deployed across the area to help remove the “biggest headache” for many farmers: agricultural waste left behind after harvest season.

Their work included:

🔹 1.5 km Cleanup Route

From Odong Bridge to Seonggok Reservoir
— volunteers collected piles of agricultural film (폐비닐), fertilizer bags, plastic bottles, and other discarded materials.

🔹 Village & Farmland Cleanup

• Cleaning narrow village alleys

• Collecting household litter

• Removing accumulated waste from farm edges and drainage paths

🔹 7,000-Pyeong Orchard & Fields (≈ 23,000 m²)

In the nearby orchard and fields, volunteers helped with:

• Weeding

• Gathering plastic mulch

• Removing pesticide containers

• Sorting abandoned waste for disposal

By the end of the day, around 1.5 tons of waste had been collected and removed.

Voices from the Community

Local residents expressed deep gratitude, noting that such tasks had been difficult to handle due to aging populations and lack of labor in winter.

“We simply didn’t have enough hands to clean all this waste. I’m so grateful,”
— Lee Jae-chun, resident of Hyeon-ri

The village leader also emphasized that the cleanup made visible improvements:

“Thanks to the consistent support from the volunteers, our village environment has improved greatly,”
— Village Leader Kang Chang-hee

Volunteers shared reflections from the field:

“I didn’t realize how physically demanding rural work can be. It made me want to continue helping where it’s truly needed,”
— Volunteer Lee Eun-bi

 Protecting Rural Environments for the Future

The volunteer group highlighted that this was more than a one-time beautification event—it was part of a long-term effort to safeguard rural environments.

“Protecting the farming environment is directly connected to community health and safety,”
— Kim Su-jin, Daegu–Gyeongbuk Union Leader

Future plans include seasonal, tailored volunteer programs to help strengthen the sustainability of rural communities. 

Why This Cleanup Matters

Agricultural waste—especially vinyl film, pesticide containers, and plastic wrapping—can severely impact:

• Soil quality

• Water sources

• Crop safety

• Wildlife habitats

• The overall appearance of rural villages

By removing these materials, the volunteers helped create a healthier environment for residents, farmers, and the upcoming planting seasons.

Source: https://vo.la/qAnB1yY