At 8 p.m. on the 26th, in an alley in Bupyeong District, Incheon. Sanitation worker A pushed a handcart with all his strength. The pile of trash loaded on the cart was stacked higher than A’s height. Upon entering an uphill stretch, A’s body, straining to the limit, tilted as if it might touch the ground. The heap of trash on the rattling cart swayed precariously, as if about to topple.

It has emerged that in some local governments, sanitation workers employed by outsourced waste disposal firms are collecting trash relying on poor equipment such as handcarts. Contractors have not moved to improve equipment, citing costs and the terms of their agreements with local governments. There are also confirmed cases in which sanitation workers shoulder equipment costs, including purchasing trucks out of pocket to collect trash.

According to reporting compiled by the Kyunghyang Shinmun on the 27th, company B, which has an outsourcing contract with the Bupyeong District Office in Incheon, provides only handcarts to sanitation workers who collect trash in alleys. Because they use handcarts, sanitation workers are working overtime, starting at 89 p.m. the previous day, which is 78 hours earlier than the 4 a.m. start time specified in their employment contracts. A said, “If I am to handle the volume with a handcart, I have no choice but to come out early,” adding, “No separate night work allowance is paid.”

In Boryeong, South Chungcheong, sanitation workers are procuring trucks at their own expense to collect trash. With only handcarts, it is difficult to finish collection on time, so they have obtained vehicles to increase work speed. C, who has worked at this company for three years, said, “The company does not directly demand that we purchase one, but in effect there is a feeling that everyone needs to secure a vehicle.”

The problem of poor equipment is leading to labor safety issues for sanitation workers. The Waste Management Act prescribes certain safety standards for transport vehicles used by sanitation workers. Handcarts and personal vehicles do not meet these standards.

The handcart A filled with trash that day is estimated to weigh over 800㎏ considering the capacity and size of the bags. A said, “On the job, carpal tunnel syndrome is a given, and many people receive treatment for elbow pain,” adding, “Because we work at night, falling or bumping into things happens frequently.” C said, “When unloading trash alone from the back of the truck, there are times I fall or slip,” adding, “Because the vehicle is personal, it is also difficult to apply workers’ compensation insurance.”

Contractors are reluctant to improve trash collection equipment. This has resulted from staffing and equipment provision based on the outsourcing contracts and cost calculations made with local governments. The Bupyeong District Office’s “Task Instructions for Household Waste Collection and Transport Service” state, “In areas such as narrow alleys where collection trucks have difficulty entering, separate means of transport (handcarts, etc.) may be used.” The cost calculation prepared when Boryeong City contracted with an outsourcing firm does not reflect the cost of deploying vehicles for alley trash collection.

Local governments take the position that cleaning equipment is the responsibility of the contractors. The Bupyeong District Office said, “Since this is work performed by a service provider, specific work methods are for the company to decide,” adding, “Working conditions are also a matter for the company and the workers to negotiate.”

Company B, which has an outsourcing contract with the Bupyeong District Office, said, “The use of handcarts is stipulated in the outsourcing contract, and coming in early is preliminary work in line with the district office’s instructions,” adding, “However, we are reviewing the introduction of additional vehicles to reflect the opinions of on-site workers.” Company D, which has an outsourcing contract with Boryeong City Hall, said, “Because the workload is heavy, some sanitation workers appear to be using personal trucks,” adding, “We will consult with the city hall so that support for vehicles is included in cost calculations.”