Gangdong-gu (Mayor Lee Jung-hun) plans to install and operate the 4th resource circulation and collection robot in front of Gangdong Community Center's main gate in an effort to establish a smart recycling collection system.

 Also known as Nephron, this unmanned artificial intelligence (AI) can and plastic bottle collecting machine is a resource circulation robot in the form of a vending machine, which was applied with the AI and Internet of Things (IoT) technology. Once a can or a plastic bottle is inserted into the machine, it automatically classifies, compresses and collects it by using its AI sensors.

  As a reward for the collection, KRW 10 of points are saved per can or plastic bottle, and up to 200 cans or plastic bottles can be collected per person every day. Once the accumulated points reach 2,000, they can be transferred to a personal bank account on the SuperBin website ( or SuperBin app and be used like cash.

  Earlier, Gangdong-gu began a pilot operation of Nephron 1 at Seongil Elementary School and also installed and currently operates Nephron 2 at Samteo Park and Nephron 3 at the Historic Site in Amsa-dong.

  As of February 2021, the accumulated number of users has reached 5,100 and the accumulated points saved have exceeded KRW 2.2 million. As a result, over 300 thousand cans and plastic bottles have been recycled to contribute to a virtuous circle of resources.

  In an attempt to further raise the level of awareness in this virtuous cycle of resources, the district has installed Nephron 4 at Gangdong Community Center.

  Mayor Lee stated, "Currently, Gangdong Community Center is closed due to COVID-19 but, in the future, we expect local residents and many of the visitors to the community center to use Nephron. We will do our best for everyone to recognize the importance of and take part in the virtuous cycle of resources."