The Garbage in Professional Baseball Stadiums [Eureka]

South Korea's professional baseball league is enjoying booming popularity, with stadiums packed with fans. However, this success comes with a dirty downside: a dramatic surge in trash left behind after games. The problem is not just that more fans mean more garbage, but that the waste is increasing at a disproportionately faster rate.

Data from the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) reveals a stark imbalance. At Seoul's Jamsil Baseball Stadium, general waste more than doubled between 2023 and 2025, while spectator numbers grew by only about 37%. Across nine stadiums nationwide, waste increased by 66.2% in three years, far outpacing the 52.3% rise in attendance. This indicates a growing per-person waste generation among fans.

The KBO and individual teams are primarily responsible. In 2023, they pledged to create 'waste-free stadiums,' yet many still heavily use disposable cups and containers, especially for draft beer. Some venues have even abandoned reusable container systems due to collection burdens, reverting to single-use options. This suggests teams are prioritizing revenue from concessions over environmental responsibility.

The article criticizes teams for profiting from games while offloading the burden of waste disposal onto local governments and sanitation workers. It argues that baseball stadiums, serving as both private commercial spaces and public assets, should have their waste management costs covered by the KBO and teams that generate revenue from ticket sales, broadcasting rights, and concessions.

Fan behavior also needs improvement. While the Korean baseball culture, characterized by shared food and collective cheering, is vibrant, the aftermath often leaves stadiums littered. Unlike in the U.S. where fans might quietly keep score, or Japan where waste disposal systems encourage participation, Korean fans often leave behind a mess. The article urges Korean teams to invest in infrastructure and personnel for proper waste disposal and encourages fans to maintain a sense of decorum. Ultimately, it suggests that true fan culture is reflected not just in the volume of cheers, but in the cleanliness of the stadium after the game.