Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment (환경영향평가)

Korean Society of Environmental Impact Assessment (한국환경영향평가학회)
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Material Flow Analysis and Impact of Greenhouse Gas Reduction by Glass Bottle Recycling

유리병 물질흐름 분석과 재활용에 따른 온실가스 감축 영향 분석

  • SukWon Jung (Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co. LTD. Central Research Institute) ;
  • Yong-Chul Jang (Department of Environmental Engineering, Chungnam National University)
  • 정석원 (한국수력원자력(주) 중앙연구원) ;
  • 장용철 (충남대학교 환경공학과)
  • Received : 2024.09.02
  • Accepted : 2024.09.25
  • Published : 2024.10.31
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Abstract

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are a major cause of global warming and climate change, and are currently emerging as serious environmental problems worldwide. Among them, glass bottles do not decompose naturally, and a lot of resources and energy are input into the production and processing processes, so recycling of glass bottles is important in terms of resource conservation, minimizing environmental pollution, and reducing GHG. Therefore, this study created a material flow diagram of glass bottles using related statistical data such as domestic glass bottle production and processing volume. In addition, the US EPA WARM model, Germany Prognos calculation method, and Denmark Christensen's calculation method were used to estimate the greenhouse gas reduction amount of glass bottles. As a result of the study, out of about 490,000 tons of waste glass bottles discharged as municipal waste, about 300,000 tons (61.2%) were recycled, and the rest were incinerated (22.1%) and landfilled (17.3%). As of 2022, it is estimated that approximately 73,399 tons CO2eq/yr will be reduced when applying the US EPA WARM model, approximately 52,847 tons CO2eq/yr when applying the Prgonos calculation method, and approximately 135,201 tons CO2eq/yr when applying the Christensen's calculation method. Further research is warranted that the methodology and GHG saving emission factors by reflecting glass recycling conditions and processes in Korea should be developed to reduce uncertainty of the results.

온실가스 배출은 지구 온난화와 기후 변화의 주요 원인이며, 현재 전 세계적으로 심각한 환경 문제로 대두되고 있다. 그 중에서 유리병은 자연적으로 분해되지 않으며, 생산과 처리 과정에서 많은 자원과 에너지가 투입되기 때문에, 유리병의 재활용은 자원 보존과 환경 오염 최소화, 온실가스 저감 측면에서 중요하다. 이에, 본 연구에서는 국내 유리병 생산량과 처리량 등의 관련 통계자료를 활용하여 유리병 물질흐름도를 작성하였다. 또한 US EPA WARM 모델, Prognos 산정방법 및 Christensen's 산정방법을 활용하여 유리병의 온실가스 감축량을 산정하였다. 연구 결과, 생활폐기물로 배출된 약 49만톤의 폐유리병 중, 약 30만톤(61.2%)이 재활용되었고, 나머지는 소각(22.1%) 및 매립(17.3%) 되었다. 2022년 기준 US EPA WARM 모델 적용 시 약 73,399 ton CO2eq/yr, Prgonos 산정방법 적용 시 약 52,847 ton CO2eq/yr, Christensen's 산정방법 적용 시 약 135,201 tonCO2eq/yr 감축되는 것으로 평가되었다. 향후 국내 유리병 재활용에 따른 온실가스 감축계수와 산정 방법론을 개발 및 적용하여 불확실성을 최소화해야 할 것이다.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This study is supported by Chungnam National University.

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