Last year, attendance at professional baseball games exceeded 12 million, a 13% increase from the previous year. However, this surge in popularity has been accompanied by a significant rise in waste generated at stadiums, which increased by 24%.
According to data reported by Yonhap News, Democratic Party lawmaker Jin Sun-mi cited figures from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment on October 23. The data revealed that the total amount of general waste produced by nine professional baseball stadiums across the country reached 2,931.7 tons last year, marking an increase of 573.83 tons (24.3%) from 2,357.87 tons in 2024. Compared to the 1,895.9 tons generated in 2023, this represents a 54.6% increase over two years.
In contrast, the number of spectators during the regular season rose from 10,887,705 in 2024 to 12,312,519 last year, a 13.1% increase. This indicates that the increase in waste generation outpaced the growth in attendance.
At the Seoul Jamsil Stadium, shared by the LG Twins and Doosan Bears, the rise in waste was particularly notable. The general waste produced at Jamsil Stadium jumped from 214.44 tons in 2023 to 497.94 tons last year, a staggering 132.2% increase. During the same period, home attendance for both teams increased by 36.9%.
When calculated per capita based on attendance, the amount of general waste generated per person also rose significantly, from approximately 98.7 grams in 2023 to 167.5 grams last year, a 69.7% increase. Critics argue that the increase in waste at Jamsil Stadium cannot be solely attributed to the rise in attendance.
Similarly, Daegu Samsung Lions Park saw its general waste increase from 218 tons in 2023 to 433 tons last year, a 98.6% rise. In Busan, Sajik Stadium's waste grew from 254.87 tons to 410.94 tons, a 61.2% increase during the same timeframe.
The costs associated with waste disposal and cleaning have also risen. Excluding Gwangju Kia Champions Field, the waste disposal and cleaning costs for the other eight stadiums increased by 28.7%, from 3.5 billion won in 2023 to 4.5 billion won last year. Over the past three years, the cumulative cost has reached 11.87 billion won. Kia Champions Field did not provide data on related costs, citing confidentiality.
Efforts to reduce single-use items through the introduction of reusable containers are expanding. Currently, seven stadiums are operating reusable container programs, with Samsung Lions Park and Sajik Stadium planning to implement similar initiatives next year.
However, there are calls for more than just the introduction of reusable containers; the actual impact on waste reduction needs to be verified. A comprehensive system for collection and reuse must be established to ensure that the use of reusable containers leads to a tangible decrease in waste.
Jin stated, "We cannot solely blame the waste issue on spectators. We need to reduce single-use items and establish a system that effectively collects reusable containers." She emphasized that the evaluation of success should focus on the actual reduction of waste rather than just the number of stadiums implementing reusable containers, urging the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Climate, and the Korea Baseball Organization to set reduction targets and management standards for each stadium.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.