99.4% of stores in pro baseball stadiums use single-use items

An overwhelming 99.4% of food stalls in South Korean professional baseball stadiums are using single-use items, according to a joint investigation by environmental organizations. The study, which examined nine stadiums across eight cities, revealed a stark reliance on disposable products, with only one store nationwide exclusively using reusable items.

The investigation, conducted by branches of the Korean Federation for Environmental Movement in Seoul, Incheon, Suwon, Daejeon, Gwangju, Daegu, Busan, and Changwon, found that out of 351 stalls, 349 used single-use items. This practice is prevalent across most stadiums, with seven of them reporting 100% single-use item usage among their vendors.

Variations exist between stadiums, with the SSG Landers Field in Incheon showing the best performance, with 50% of its stalls using reusable items. In contrast, Samsung Lions Park in Daegu had only 2.4% of stalls using reusable items. Among the most common single-use items are chopsticks, forks, and skewers, which were used in all 233 stalls that offered them. Disposable bowls and plastic cups were also widely used.

The environmental groups also identified issues with waste management systems in the stadiums, noting a lack of comprehensive separation for recycling various materials like paper, plastic, and food waste. Furthermore, the absence of public drinking water fountains in all nine stadiums forces attendees to purchase bottled water, significantly increasing plastic waste.

In response, the groups have urged the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) to take several actions. These include increasing transparency in waste generation and recycling rates, setting targets for waste reduction, promoting the use of reusable containers, installing sufficient water dispensers, and improving waste separation facilities. Data from the KBO shows a significant increase in general waste generated at stadiums, rising by 66.2% from 2023 to 2025, outpacing the growth in spectator numbers.

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The waste generated at the nine professional baseball stadiums nationwide totaled 3,441.19 tons in 2025, a 66.2% increase from 2,027.47 tons in 2023.