• Korean Management Science Review
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2014

As the scarcity of natural resources has become apparent, the recycling industry has emerged as a promising one for its growth potential. Yet, the recycling industry still remains undeveloped and inefficient for various reasons. In this study, we focus on firms' recycling processes to understand the current status of recycling firms' value creation activities. With respect to the adopted recycling processes, we empirically investigate the differences in firm characteristics and firm performance. We use the data from Keco (Korea Environment Cooperation) which annually conducts a survey of recycling firms in Korea. We exclusively consider the whole group of plastic recycling industry in order to control for a possible bias in firm performance, stemming from the heterogeneity in processing and recycling of materials other than plastics. We review the descriptive statistics from the sample firms and conduct a series of hierarchical regression analyses. The results show that most of the firms in this industry adopt physical transformation processes with a low-level technology. These firms with physical transformation processes are smaller in size and produce entry level items which do not secure higher margins. The results indicate that the recycling industry largely comprises low value added firms which lack economies of scale and resources for R&D. For the stable growth of the industry, recycling firms must create sustainable values through implementation of technology-driven processes and improvement in product quality. In addition, the government should help build a reliable reverse logistic network, lower the entry barriers, and provide necessary funding for the SMEs in the recycling industry.

• Hwankyungkyoyuk
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.54-69
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• 2011

The objectives of this study were to investigate the need for school uniform recycling and to review the school uniform recycling-related education. 231 female high school students were asked to answer regarding the wearing state of school uniform and their satisfaction level. 10 subjects in middle school technology/home economy were evaluated. As the result, the students wore 1~2 pieces of school uniform, which showed that it was hard to keep them clean by washing them often. The satisfaction level of school uniform was not high, The lowest item was the price. Therefore, to increase the satisfaction level of the school uniforms and also to increase the sanitary level of the school uniforms, it was advisable to purchase a recycled school uniform at cheaper prices to have an extra set. For a vitalization of the recycled school uniforms, the middle school technology/home economy subjects were reviewed. In the topic of "clothing acquisition plan and purchase", the themes of planned purchase, overconsumption of clothing and environmental pollution were discussed and included preferable behaviors for disposal. The topic of "clothing manufacturing and recycling" listed recycling the clothes that are not worn or exchanging them with neighbors as well as suggesting methods to illicit environment-friendly behaviors and carrying them out. However, some textbooks only briefly explained the methods of recycling and more detailed and practical methods need to be suggested in the curriculum. In addition, the contents regarding the environment in the clothing topic need to be supplemented more and more changes, such as related education plans or data development, are required. The objectives of this study were to investigate the need for school uniform recycling and to review the school uniform recycling-related education. 231 female high school students were asked to answer regarding the wearing state of school uniform and their satisfaction level. 10 subjects in middle school technology/home economy were evaluated. As the result, the students wore 1~2 pieces of school uniform, which showed that it was hard to keep them clean by washing them often. The satisfaction level of school uniform was not high, The lowest item was the price. Therefore, to increase the satisfaction level of the school uniforms and also to increase the sanitary level of the school uniforms, it was advisable to purchase a recycled school uniform at cheaper prices to have an extra set. For a vitalization of the recycled school uniforms, the middle school technology/home economy subjects were reviewed. In the topic of "clothing acquisition plan and purchase", the themes of planned purchase, overconsumption of clothing and environmental pollution were discussed and included preferable behaviors for disposal. The topic of "clothing manufacturing and recycling" listed recycling the clothes that are not worn or exchanging them with neighbors as well as suggesting methods to illicit environment-friendly behaviors and carrying them out. However, some textbooks only briefly explained the methods of recycling and more detailed and practical methods need to be suggested in the curriculum. In addition, the contents regarding the environment in the clothing topic need to be supplemented more and more changes, such as related education plans or data development, are required.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.38-49
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• 2015

The importance of recycling came to the fore by increasing of waste electrical and electronic equipment(WEEE) generation. Small WEEE recycling in particular represents a big challenge in Korea because it has various items and components. Main materials of small WEEE are typically well known for metals (copper, iron, aluminum, etc.), PCBs and plastics. Not only Korea but also overseas, the laws for small WEEE were in effect in order to recycle effectively, but the technology is not catched up with the regulation which has to recycle an allocated account of WEEE. In addition, recycling technologies and processes for small WEEE are not developed enough to recycling center properly. In that sense, if we develope the recycling process, have not only technology competitiveness but also resource conservation, improving the environment and economic profits. Therefore, through the analysis of economic value of recycled small WEEE, and current technologies both domestically and internationally, we design conceptual recycling process of small WEEE, and consider the way forward.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.3-11
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• 2011

Magnesium has been used as parts of vehicles, case materials of notebook PC and mobile phone, and its demand has been increasing recently. So until now, there has little magnesium scraps from the end of life vehicles or electronic parts, and most scraps has been generated from magnesium processing lines such as melting, die casting and machining. It is to review the present status of magnesium recycling. Here, domestic demand of magnesium, recycling amount and technologies used in domestic recycling companies were surveyed in recent years. In 2010, 8,840 tons of magnesium scraps were processed and used as raw materials for die casting products. The recycling ratio was estimated as 32.5%.

• Proceedings of the Safety Management and Science Conference
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.411-417
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• 2005

In the last year, the number of registered vehicles in Korea surpassed the 15 million mark, and increase in number continuously. Nowdays, this tendency has raised some problems inevitably in the view of expansion of ELV(End of Life Vehicles) and earth environment pollution resulted from it. A foreign country is strengthening law about a car recycling for to solve this problem. Car recycling technology in Japan was introduced in this paper.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.43-50
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• 2015

An extensive literature survey and personal communication with relevant experts made it possible to understand economic and technical feasibility of disposable diaper recycling. Commercial level of soiled diaper recycling technology is currently available from a Dutch company, Knowaste Co., who owns a proprietary separation technology of the pulps, plastics and super absorbing polymer (SAP). In Korea, on the other hand, pre-consumer diaper recycling technology without material separation at its infancy converts manufacturing scraps into refuse plastic fuel (RPF), container/truck cargo boards or automobile boards/sheets. Although previous studies on feasibility of post-consumer recycling in Korea showed mutually contradictory implication, it was found out in this research that significantly positive economic feasibility can be obtained with pre-consumer diaper recycling. Subsequent recycling R&D including pre-consumer scrap and policy support may expedite 'Establishment of Sustainable Society.

• Journal of Korea Technical Association of The Pulp and Paper Industry
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.27-35
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• 2008

In order to determine the most appropriate recycling line to treat old corrugated container (OCC) to substitute unbleached kraft pulp (UKP) for the manufacture of kraft paper, three recycling lines were evaluated in pilot scale tests. The recycling line consisting of kneading, flotation, washing, dispersion and screening steps was able to produce pulp with acceptable appearance. Kneading was shown to be more efficient treatment to reduce specks than dispersion. In addition, 0.2 mm slot screen was very effective to remove specks. Severe damages on fiber morphology such as shortening of fiber and formation of fines were not observed during mechanical treatments such as kneading and dispersion. Most of strength properties of the kraft paper produced with the recycled pulp were found to be slightly increased after treated in the recycling lines.

• Journal of Korea Technical Association of The Pulp and Paper Industry
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.18-23
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• 1999

This study examined the effects of multiple recycling on deinkability and properties of recycled paper from laser computer printout(LCPO). First, alkaline paper with a 20% printed area was disintegrated by TAPPI standard disintegrator. After dewatering , the pulp was followed by flotation, handsheet making, and drying at room temperature, in order. A sequence of printing , disintegrating, flotating , handsheet making and drying was one recycling cycle and this cyclic treatment was repeateed from zero to five times. The residual ink content in recycled handsheets by SEM-EDXA and Py-GC analyseswas increased slightly as recycling number increase. After five cycles of recycling the ISO brightness of recycled handsheets dropped to about 90% of the original brightness. However, it had a gain of 10% in opacity. The most of physical properties of recycled handsheets were decreased as recycling numbers increase except of for tear strength.

• Journal of Korea Technology Innovation Society
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.367-381
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• 2002

This study deals with the technological trends in the automobile recycling technologies. It first discusses the importance and current situation of automobile recycling. And then it discusses the technological trends in automobile recycling industry classifying the technologies into three groups: disassemblying, recycling, and design. It deals with recycling of major parts of automobiles and the design of automobile for recyclability. This study also contains a patent analysis of the technologies. Different patterns in the trend of patents among various conn-tries are discussed with the context of legal and industrial situation of each country And finally it discusses the forecasting for the future technological and legislative trends.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Resources Recycling Conference
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• 1993.03a
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• pp.9.2-9
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• 1993