Search

Pallets and containers are reused for a long period of time and are circulated and shared among consumers via a pool system. Although attempts have recently been made to convert to an EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) system in Korea, it is difficult to calculate their mandatory recycling rates because they are treated as the same waste, even though they are clearly different from disposable consumer goods and plastic packaging materials. In this study, we tried to calculate waste generation based on the lifespan of plastic pallets and containers using the probability density function. The life distribution for each material (PE (polyethylene) and PP (polypropylene)) of pallets and containers was derived, and by applying this, the amount of waste generation from 2010 to 2027 was estimated. The Mean Time to Failure among pallets was 9.6 years for PE and 3.2 years for PP, and among containers, was 16.5 years for PE and 12.2 years for PP. Additionally, it was calculated that pallets had a waste generation rate of 67.5% to 75.1% by shipment, and containers 26.9–69.2%. These results can be used to calculate the waste generation rate when calculating the mandatory recycling rate of pallets and containers in the future. However, since pallets and containers are used second-hand, or are exported together with products after being shipped domestically, the amount flowing into recycling companies decreases, so it is considered that supplementation via material balance analysis is necessary to calculate the mandatory recycling rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, the amount of waste generated in Korea has been increasing, and there have been difficulties disposing of it. As an energy-intensive and raw-materials-oriented industry, the cement industry is facing challenges including overcoming the climate crisis and achieving carbon neutrality. Co-processing was suggested as a solution, but the environmental effects of this have not been specifically studied in Korea. In this study, the effects of using alternative resources (limestone, silica stone, iron ore, and gypsum) and fuel on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the cement industry in Korea were analyzed. GHGs generated from mineral mining were compared to GHGs of alternative resources. The reduction in GHGs by using alternative fuel was calculated via the amount of heat from waste instead of that from bituminous coal. Co-processing can reduce approximately 106.9 kg of CO2 in one ton of cement. The cost savings were estimated to be about USD 3815 million. In addition, the lifespans of landfills would be extended by 7.55 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]