Waste In Korea Research Articles

A Study on Factors Influencing Behavioral Intentions for Separating Recyclable Waste in Korea

This study delves into the intricate relationship between individuals’ environmental knowledge, awareness of the ban on disposable plastic cups, and intentions to separate recyclables. Grounded in the Theory of Planned Behavior, the research design, data collection, and methodology encompassed the acquisition of 483 valid samples from 16 major metropolitan cities and provinces in South Korea. Environmental knowledge was assessed, focusing on two pivotal factors: environmental harmfulness and recycling. Path Analysis, executed through Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), allowed for evaluating path coefficients, specific indirect effects, and total effects of latent variables within the research model. The results illuminate the most influential pathways within the model. Individuals’ attitudes toward separating recyclables substantially impacted their intentions to engage in separation behavior (t = 9.420, R² = 0.380, p < 0.000). Furthermore, environmental knowledge significantly shaped individuals’ attitudes (t = 8.607, R² = 0.271, p < 0.000). Every hypothesis within the model was statistically significant, underscoring the robustness of the findings. An intriguing discovery was that the awareness of the ban on disposable plastic cups exerted a more pronounced influence on individuals’ practical understanding of precise recycling methods, as opposed to their general knowledge about the harmfulness of plastics. In conclusion, this study offers compelling evidence that residents’ environmental knowledge and attitudes toward recycling play pivotal roles in boosting their active participation in waste separation efforts. These findings have substantial implications for environmental policy and awareness campaigns, emphasizing the need to foster knowledge and positive attitudes to promote sustainable recycling practices.

An Improved Strategy to Effectively Manage Healthcare Waste after COVID-19 in Republic of Korea

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, 24,289 tons of infectious waste was generated in 2021 in Korea, a 320% increase compared to that generated in 2020 (5788 tons). The disposal of other healthcare waste has been delayed because COVID-19 infectious waste must be disposed of first, leading to long-term concerns related to the lack of healthcare waste disposal capacity. To solve this problem, this study investigated healthcare waste classification systems in Korea and overseas. We analyzed the current state of healthcare waste in Korea and compared the treatment methods and healthcare waste treatment systems by country. The results showed that Korea has a strict healthcare waste management system compared to other countries, which relies on dedicated incinerators and transport. It is difficult to expand incinerators exclusively for healthcare waste due to site selection issues because they incinerate infectious waste. Therefore, to solve the healthcare waste disposal problem, Korea should improve its management system to reduce treatment amounts. This study suggests that general healthcare waste that is considered less infectious should be excluded from healthcare waste-exclusive treatment and that sterilization/grinding as an intermediate treatment method should be allowed.

Proposal of Application Method for Concentration Averaging of Radioactive Waste in Korea by Using CA BTP of US NRC

Proposal of Application Method for Concentration Averaging of Radioactive Waste in Korea by Using CA BTP of US NRC

The Impact of Full-System Decontamination of Kori Unit 1 on the Radioactive Waste Classification of Steam Generator Tubes

Kori Unit 1, which was permanently shut down on 18 June 2017, is planned to undergo full-system decontamination prior to major decommissioning activities. One of the advantages of performing FSD is the downgrading of the classification level of radioactive waste. From this perspective, the impact on the steam generator (SG) tubes, which account for a considerable portion of the total surface area during FSD operation, was examined. Initially, the CRUDTRAN code was used to predict the radioactivity inventory of the Kori Unit 1 SG tubes, which turned out to be approximately 21% more conservative than the measured value. To estimate the radioactivity in the tubes after FSD, decontamination factor values from overseas cases in the SG tubes section were selected and applied. Then, the regulations for radioactive waste in Korea were reviewed, and the specific activity was calculated by predicting the mass of the SG tubes. As a conclusion, it was confirmed that the SG tubes will be classified as low-level radioactive waste, whether FSD is performed or not. Furthermore, it was observed that even if a high efficiency of FSD is achieved, if stored, it would take more than 50 years for clearance.

A Study on the Calculation of the Standard Recycling Cost of PVC Profiles and Flooring Waste in Korea

The Voluntary Agreement for Collecting and Recycling Plastic Waste (VA), including polyvinyl chloride (PVC) profiles and flooring materials, will be converted to an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system from 2023. The objective of this study is to calculate the standard recycling cost and the recycling market size for preparing the new system. Among the total recycling companies participating in the VA, a cost analysis was conducted for 11 profile businesses (35% of the total businesses) and seven flooring businesses (58% of the total businesses). As a result, the standard recycling cost was calculated as 0.45 USD/kg for PVC profiles and 0.36 USD/kg for PVC flooring materials. As of 2020, the total market size is 1135 million USD (5.86 million USD for PVC profiles and 5.49 million USD for PVC flooring materials). Our research shows that few countries have nationally managed accurate data regarding PVC profiles and flooring waste. Compared to the European Union (EU), the total amount of recycled PVC products in Korea seems lower, but the recycling rate per capita is higher. This study can provide basic data about the recycling industry for the recycling academia and the manufacturing field.

Residents’ perceptions of household food waste during the COVID-19 outbreak in Korea

Analyzing household food waste data at the global or national level remains a challenge, especially owing to lack of statistical systems and socio-cultural differences. This study determined the factors affecting the intention of households to reduce food waste on Jeju Island and on the Korean mainland. Socio-demographic factors significantly influence household food waste generation. Therefore, studies are often conducted depending on data availability in the corresponding regions. Based on national data and the theory of planned behavior, this study analyzed data using PLS-SEM (Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling) to test the influence of multiple determinants and parameters on dependent variables and investigated the awareness of household food waste in Korea, focusing on Jeju Province, Korea’s largest tourist destination. A survey of 508 local residents established that all factors evaluated in this study, except for risk concerns due to COVID-19, were statistically significant. Among the three antecedents of age, income, and family size, age significantly affected all mediators, directly affecting behavioral intentions. The results are consistent with those of preceding research on the effects of socio-demographic drivers on household food waste generation. The results also indicate that in Korea, where the COVID-19 infection level is lower than that in other countries, residents did not change their food purchasing and waste production patterns. However, a multi-group analysis revealed that the risk concerns caused by COVID-19 differed between residents of Jeju Island and mainland Korea. Overcoming the vulnerability of waste management, including food dumping, is mandatory for locals and tourists on Jeju Island.

A study on the clearance waste recycling scenario in the decommissioning of Korea’s nuclear power plants

This study aimed to suggest an optimal recycling approach for metal and concrete clearance waste generated most from the decommissioning of Korea’s nuclear power plants. The current status of domestic and foreign clearance waste recycling was reviewed. By analyzing factors that can directly or indirectly affect the recycling of clearance wastes, evaluation criteria for an optimal recycling scenario of the clearance wastes were fixed. Thereafter, the importance (weightage) of each criterion was calculated using the Fuzzy-AHP methodology, and based on such weightage, an optimal clearance waste recycling approach was suggested suitable for the domestic nuclear environment.Resulting from comparing/reviewing the top tier (level 1) evaluation criteria, “Public Acceptance (PA)” and “National Policy and Regulatory Requirements” were shown as the most important criteria. Among the second level (level 2) evaluation criteria, “PA for Recycling” and “Compliance with Regulatory Requirements” were evaluated as dominant criteria in this study, and then using these evaluation criteria, an analysis was performed to select optimal probable clearance waste recycling scenarios, which evaluated that unrestricted use was preferred. This was probably because of the fact that the survey team was composed of experts in nuclear field who were well aware that recycling of clearance waste in general industries does not have a significant effect in terms of radiation safety. However, considering the local condition, clearance waste recycling can be rejected by the public just because such wastes are discharged from nuclear power plants, and hence there is a need for policy and institutional improvement on clearance waste recycling that can reassure the public and the scientific safety of clearance waste. Additionally, to improve PA, it is necessary to share related information through the participation of stakeholders in the decommissioning process of nuclear power plants, and to prepare specific measures to disclose all routes from the generation to disposal of decommissioning wastes.Considering that research on the recycling of clearance wastes in Korea has not been activated, the significance of this study is that it derives measures to recycle clearance waste of metal and concrete that can be implemented. Furthermore, it is expected that the evaluation criteria derived in this study will be significant for establishing a radioactive waste management strategy.

A Review of Medical Waste Management Systems in the Republic of Korea for Hospital and Medical Waste Generated from the COVID-19 Pandemic

With the increasing generation of medical waste worldwide, managing medical waste has become crucial, given its potential environmental and public health risks. Previously in the Republic of Korea, medical waste was often mixed with municipal waste and disposed of in residential landfills or unsuitable treatment facilities (e.g., improperly managed incinerators). Environmental regulators and waste producers have made extensive efforts in recent years to improve waste management at healthcare facilities. This study presents an overview of the status of medical waste management in Korea and discusses information on the generation, composition, separation, transportation, and treatment of medical waste. Incineration was confirmed to be the most preferred treatment method for medical waste and was the only one used until late 2005. Large-scale medical waste incinerators are used for treating medical waste from most medical facilities in Korea; however, with increasing regulations on toxic air emissions (e.g., dioxins and furans), air emission standards are being tightened for all existing small-scale incineration facilities without air pollution control. Since medical waste usually contains various plastic materials such as polyvinyl chloride, these incinerators are highly likely to emit toxic air pollutants if improperly operated and managed. Waste minimization and recycling, control of toxic air emissions from medical waste incinerators, and alternative treatment methods to incineration are seen as major challenges. Incineration capacity cannot be expanded as quickly as the rising quantities of medical waste in Korea; thus, there is a growing need to reconsider the overall management system. Accordingly, we examined various medical waste treatment policies and methods that are being implemented in other countries, in addition to the main strategy of waste management. To determine preferable directions for the improvement of the medical waste management system, we investigated and compared the status of domestic and foreign waste management and proposed directions for improvement, focusing on several issues related to the current medical waste management system in Korea.

Improvement of desalinization performance in reclaimed land through recycling of bottom ash and oyster shells

Reclaimed land and coastal soils have characteristics of poor drainage and high salinity because they are adjacent to the ocean. As salty soil hinders growth of crops, it is necessary to improve drainage performance and desalinize the soil for efficient use of reclaimed land. Bottom ash and oyster shells are produced in significant amounts as by-products and wastes in Korea each year and, if left unattended, can cause environmental problems. Because these materials are large in size, particle size distribution and permeability of the soil can be improved by mixing of such ash and shells. Carbonate, a main component of oyster shell, is known to promote granulation of soil particles and can affect the grain size distribution of the soil. In addition, bottom ash has a porous structure that can improve permeability when it is mixed with soil. Therefore, several experiments and numerical analyses were performed in this study on use of bottom ash and oyster shells as soil improvement materials and drainage materials to improve the desalinization efficiency of reclaimed land. Permeability was improved by about 2.7 times at a 20% mixing ratio and by about 5.5 times at a 40% mixing ratio of oyster shell, and bottom ash was most suitable and effective when used as a material for the drainage layer. Desalinization efficiency was highest when mixing oyster shells at a 40% ratio and using bottom ash for drainage, which increased the efficiency by approximately 2.6 times over 10 days. In conclusion, reuse of bottom ash and oyster shell could improve the efficiency of reclaimed land use.

Preparation of the Applicable Regulatory Guideline on Mixed Waste in Korea Based on the Analysis of US Laws and Regulations

Unit 1 of the Kori Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) and Unit 1 of the Wolsong NPP are being prepared for decommissioning; their decommissioning is expected to generate large amounts of intermediate-level, low-level, and very low level Waste. Mixed waste containing both radioactive and hazardous substances is expected to be produced. Nevertheless, laws and regulations, such as the Korean Nuclear Safety Act and Waste Management Act, do not define clear regulatory guidelines for mixed waste. However, the United States has strictly enforced regulations on mixed waste, focusing on the human health and environmental effects of its hazardous components. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the U.S. Department of Energy regulate the radioactive components of mixed waste under the Atomic Energy Act. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulates the hazardous waste component of mixed waste under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. In this study, the laws, regulations, and authorities pertaining to mixed waste in the United States are reviewed. Through comparison and analysis with waste management laws and regulations in Korea, a treatment direction for mixed waste is suggested. Such a treatment for mixed waste will increase the efficiency of managing mixed waste when decommissioning NPPs in the near future.

Efficiencies of unconventional bulking agents in composting food waste in Korea

Sawdust is the main bulking agent used to compost food waste in Korea but it is not an economically desirable choice because its availability entirely depends on imports. Since food waste composting provides agricultural, environmental and economic benefits, it is vital that we search for suitable replacements to sawdust from the locally available materials. In this study, we assessed the composting characteristics of food waste amended with various bulking agents including sawdust, ginkgo leaves, insect feces, and mushroom waste. Each of the bulking agents was mixed with the food waste in ratios of 3:7, respectively. Even though the initial temperatures were highest in the mixture of the food waste and insect feces whose temperature stood at 65 °C against 39, 58 and 51 °C in the sawdust, ginkgo leaves and mushroom waste mixtures, respectively on the third day of the experiment (DAT 3), it was terminated on the 21st day (DAT 21) because of excessively high water content (70.92%). The water content of the composted food waste supplemented with sawdust, mushroom waste, and ginkgo leaves stood at 51.28, 39.81, and 44.92%, respectively at the end of the experiment and therefore, the fully mature composts satisfied the water content requirement of less than 55% established by the Rural Development Agency of the ministry of Agriculture of Korea. The results of the CoMMe-101, Solvita and seed germination index indicated that the composted food waste amended with the mushroom waste and ginkgo leaves matured relatively quicker than that of the sawdust amendment. Based on the above observations, it is clear that the mushroom waste and ginkgo leaves are actually more effective bulking agents than the sawdust and as such, are recommended as suitable replacements for sawdust in food waste composting.

Seasonal Variation Analysis Method of GHG at Municipal Solid Waste Incinerator

The greenhouse gas emissions of the waste incineration sector account for approximately 43% of the total GHG emissions and represent the majority of the CO2 emissions from waste in Korea. Improving the reliability of the GHG inventory of the waste incineration sector is an important aspect for the examination of global GHG emission management according to the Paris Agreement. In this study, we introduced a statistical approach to analyze seasonal changes through analysis of waste composition and CO2 concentration in Municipal Solid Waste incinerators and applied the methodology to one case study facility. The analysis results in the case study showed that there was no seasonal variation in waste composition and CO2 concentrations, except for wood. Wood is classified as biomass, and the GHG emissions caused by biomass incineration are reported separately, indicating that the effect of an MSW incinerator on GHG emissions is not significant. Therefore, the seasonal effect of CO2 concentration or waste composition may not be an impact when calculating GHG emissions from case study facilities’ MSW incinerators. This study proposed an approach for analyzing factors that affect the GHG inventory reliability by analyzing seasonal characteristics and variation through the statistical analysis, which are used for the calculation of the GHG emissions of an MSW incinerator.

Spatiotemporal changes in hydrogeochemistry of coastal groundwater through the construction of underground disposal facility for low and intermediate level radioactive wastes in Korea

This study was objected to assess active changes in hydrochemistry of coastal groundwater through the construction of underground low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste (LILRW) disposal facility. Groundwater monitoring data from the construction stage of the facility beginning in 2010 to the operation stage in 2017 revealed seawater intrusion (SWI) into the inland area with significant spatiotemporal variation and subsequent changes in hydrochemical reactions. Groundwater was divided into three groups based on the temporal changes in the seawater mixing ratio. Group 1 showed an increasing trend with some delayed responses to SWI and an ion-exchange dominant process. Group 2 represented dynamic changes of hydrochemical reactions in time toward to a new equilibrium condition along SWI and refreshing. In this group, simultaneous increases in SO4 and Ca, depletion of δ34SSO4, and a slight decline in the SI of gypsum suggest that precipitation and re-dissolution of gypsum occurred during the transition of SWI. These changes are probably attributable to the balance change between seawater and fresh groundwater inflows, and subsequently to preferential flow paths developed in the fractured aquifer. Group 3 groundwater demonstrated a rapid and direct connection with seawater since the beginning of construction of the LILRW facility. In summary, SWI process and subsequent hydrogeochemical reactions in the coastal groundwater varies significantly in time and in space, thus continuous monitoring of groundwater chemistry is warranted for safety management of the underground LILRW facility.

Screening Assessment of Radiological Effect From Clearance of Decommissioning Concrete Waste Based Upon Recycling Framework of Construction Waste in Korea

Screening Assessment of Radiological Effect From Clearance of Decommissioning Concrete Waste Based Upon Recycling Framework of Construction Waste in Korea

The Strategy for Management of Plastic Waste in Korea through the Recycling Policy in Developed Countries

The Strategy for Management of Plastic Waste in Korea through the Recycling Policy in Developed Countries

Regulations on Ocean Discharge of Industrial Waste in Korea

Regulations on Ocean Discharge of Industrial Waste in Korea

An Improvement Plan on the Management of Transboundary Movement of Waste in Korea

An Improvement Plan on the Management of Transboundary Movement of Waste in Korea

Review of the Status and Treatment Method of Organic Waste in Korea

Review of the Status and Treatment Method of Organic Waste in Korea

Current Status and Improvements on Management of Plastic Waste in Korea

Current Status and Improvements on Management of Plastic Waste in Korea

In situ reclamation of closed coal mine waste in Korea using coal ash

Adding coal ash to acid waste decreases its acidity and supplies essential nutrients to plants. The effects of coal ash on acid coal mine waste and acid mine drainage were investigated in the field. Treatments were mixtures of coal mine waste with coal ash (0, 20, and 40%). Addition of coal ash increased the pH of coal mine waste and leachate by 3.11 and 3.03 units, respectively. After stabilization, the concentrations in the leachate decreased from 4.65 to 0.44 mg L−1 for Fe and from 0.31 mg L−1 to “not detected” for Pb. The organic matter content and cation exchange capacity increased significantly (approximately twofold each), for coal mine waste with coal ash. Moreover, plant growth on coal mine waste that had been treated with coal ash was greatly stimulated. The application of coal ash offers an environmentally compatible, cost-effective way to remediate coal mine waste or leachate contaminated with heavy metals.