By Kim Bo-eun

Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) has stepped up its efforts to handle the massive amounts of trash produced by residents flocking to the Han River to spend their nights there amid the sweltering heat.

The municipal authority said Wednesday it has increased the number of park cleaners from 95 to 120, with the extra labor force to work from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. until Sept. 31.

According to the city, the daily amount of trash has increased to 20 tons a day since July, compared with the average amount for non-summer months estimated at around 5 tons per day at the 12 riverside parks.

More and more residents have been going to the parks at nighttime to enjoy a can of beer and late-night snacks by the waterside as a way of spending sleepless nights during the sweltering heat.

With the 2012 London Olympics underway, many residents watch the games on their smart phones at parks.

The nighttime temperature in Seoul has been above 25 degrees Celsius for 11 consecutive nights due to a heat wave that has hit the nation.

The daytime highs in Seoul have been hovering around 35 degrees for the last eight days, with the heat continuing through the night. Seoul’s first heat wave warning since a system was adopted in 2008 was issued July 24.

The problem of mounting trash occurred because there was nobody cleaning during the hours when the majority of residents were visiting. The regular working hours for the park cleaners had been from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Trash piled up as visitors ordered delivery food such as fried chicken and bought snacks from convenience stores in the parks.

Toilets had become blocked and overflowing trash caused foul odors.

The parks now have cleaners working 24 hours a day to create a pleasant environment for residents who visit the parks, regardless of time.

“We ask that visitors who’ve been increasing lately would they take their trash with them,” said an official at the Han River Park Office. “The city will also do its best to provide a pleasant environment to visitors to the parks.”