Industrial Waste Reduction
Under Article 17 of Waste Control Act ― Duties of Industrial Waste Producers ― the Industrial Waste Reduction System has been in operation since December 1996 to encourage industrial waste producers to voluntarily make efforts to reduce wastes by decreasing the source of generation and increasing recycling. The System is also intended to analyze and assess industrial waste producers' accomplishment with regard to waste reduction and guide them in waste reduction technology.
The Industrial Waste Reduction System fundamentally aims to reduce the volume of wastes generated or disposed of, or its harmfulness by decreasing waste or promoting recycling in the production process. The generation of wastes from 1,270 places of business reduced by 8.9% (3,122tons) in 2008 compared to the previous year. In addition, the volume of wastes prevented through improving the production process or changing materials was 516 tons, equivalent to 1.6% of the wastes generated. The volume of wastes generated from producing a ton of products was 53.6kg, reduced by 1.1%(0.6kg), but the total waste volume increased by 20%(737tons) over that of 2007(3,694tons).
| Classification | Performance in 2007 | 2008 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Performance | Increasing or Decreasing Rate | ||
| Number of Businesses | 1,350 | 1,297 | △53(3.9) |
| Production Volume (1,000 ton) | 644,918 | 593,890 | △51,028(7.9) |
| Sales (one billion won) | 597,512 | 676,619 | 79,107(13.2) |
| Volume of Waste Prevented(1,000 ton) | 523 | 516 | △7(1.3) |
| Volume of Waste Generated (1,000 ton) | 34,954 (100) | 31,832 (100) | △3,122(8.9) |
| - production basic unit(㎏/ton) | 54.2 | 53.6 | △0.6(1.1) |
| - sales basic unit (㎏/one billion won) | 58.5 | 47 | △11.3(19.3) |
| Volume of Waste Recycled (1,000 ton) | 31,260 (89.4) | 27,401 (86.1) | △3,859(12.3) |
| - production basic unit(㎏/ton) | 48.5 | 46.1 | △2.4(4.9) |
| - sales basic unit (㎏/one billion won) | 52.3 | 40.5 | △11.8(22.6) |
| Total Amount of Wastes (1,000 ton) | 3,694 (10.6) | 4,431 (13.9) | 737(20.0) |
| - production basic unit(㎏/ton) | 5.7 | 7.5 | 1.8(31.6) |
| - sales basic unit (㎏/one billion won) | 6.2 | 6.5 | 0.3(4.8) |
※ production basic unit (of waste generation volume)：volume of wastes generated from producing a ton of products(kg)
※ sales basic unit (of waste generation volume): volume of wastes generated from sales of a billion won(ton)
By revising the guidelines on industrial waste reduction in December 2001, the process of reporting the waste reduction result was streamlined. Plans and results of wastes reduction by businesses began to be computerized by designating the Korean Environment & Resources Corporation as an organization for computerization and developing computerization programs. In addition, a waste reduction evaluation team was organized to objectively assess businesses' waste reduction results and guide them in the application of waste reduction technology. As of 2008, 43 businesses have been selected as model enterprises as a result of assessing plans and accomplishment of waste reduction.
In May 2003, Wastes Control Act was revised to define waste minimization facilities as facilities that serve to minimize production of wastes by reducing the quantity of wastes generated in a manufacturing process and by recycling wastes within a place of business. According to the Enforcement Decree of the Wastes Control Act, which was revised in February 2004, waste minimization facilities mean process improvement facilities, waste reuse facilities, waste recycling facilities designated by the Ministry of Environment, and other facilities designated and notified by the Minister of Environment. Also, places of business subject to the System were expanded from those which dispose of more than 200tons of designated wastes a year to those which dispose of more than 1,000 tons of non-hazardous wastes based on annual average volume for the most recent three years. Moreover, the waste reduction evaluation team was expanded to the waste reduction evaluation council, and five subcommittees were organized by five business categories for improving expertise and efficiency.
In 2005, with the opening of the website for comprehensive information on waste reduction(www.allbaro.or.kr), diverse information including direction of waste reduction policies, model cases, and waste reduction technologies began to be widely shared. By holding a convention on waste reduction accomplishment for the first time, a plaque and a government reward were given to places of business which showed good results in waste reduction, and exemplary reduction cases were shared. In 2006, waste reduction policy directions were introduced and waste reduction guides by each category were spread by holding a 'waste reduction academy' and distributing casebooks. The title of the convention on waste reduction accomplishment was changed to 'The Resource Circulation Leading Business Award' and the government's reward was upgraded from being awarded by the Minister of Environment to being awarded by the President. 'The Voluntary Waste Reduction Convention' was concluded for places of business without a duty to reduce wastes so that waste generation can be fundamentally controlled and businesses can enhance environmental competitiveness.
