• Resources Recycling
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.79-89
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• 2023

One of the foremost environmental challenges, alongside the contemporary focus on achieving carbon neutrality, pertains to the pervasive issue of plastic waste. Thermochemical recycling technology, operating under high-temperature conditions to covert organic matter and recycle it into raw materials and energy, represents a transformative approach surpassing the conventional bounds of material recycling predominantly applied in plastic waste management. The thermochemical recycling paradigm is emerging as a pivotal technology within the circular economy, capable of transforming waste plastics into raw materials for producing original plastics. Its significance extends beyond national borders, garnering global attention due to its versatility as a chemical or energy recycling method, contingent upon the subsequent processes and final products. This study aims to scrutinize three quintessential thermochemical recycling technologies: combustion, gasification, and pyrolysis. Furthermore, the study discusses the recent major technology trends of these technologies.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.131-149
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• 1995

The object of this study is to suggest some alternatives for environmental management towards sustainable urban development of Chongju city in Korea. This study analyses urban environmental indicators (population density, land use, road, park, car, etc.), level of air and water pollution and solids waste generation by comparing Chongju city and other large cities. Some alternatives towards sustainable development in Chongju city would be summerized and suggested as higher concentrated land use(compact city), mixed land use, supply of mass transit, establishment of regional environmental standards, total emission regulation of air and water pollutants, the preparation of Local Agenda21 of Chongju, and the introduction of strategic environmental assessment(SEA) into environmental impact assessment.

• Korean Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.133-140
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• 2011

Recently, the demolition industry is becoming more important than ever for formulating reuse and recycling of a construction waste with the current trend in pursuing a sustainable development. As considering the situation of a domestic housing construction and an existing house, a scale of a demolition market is expected to increase continually. Therefore, for a sustainable development, it is needed to forecast and manage rightly the demolition waste producted in a demolition phase. But, because most of a demolition company is very small and the investment in a technology development is not enough, the effort to develope a system and to make a standard for managing righly a demolition waste is also not sufficient. Therefore, this study develops a system to automatize quantifying a demolition waste. This system makes it possible to manage the planning of demolition works and the quantifying, disposal, reusing and recycling of a demolition waste in one system by integrating all the activities related with demolition works. 3D drawings of each element for demolition works will manage by being linked to its schedule for visualizing 3D object. Also, this study presents methods for quantifying easily a demolition waste by using 3D object.

• Fashion, Industry and Education
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.18-30
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• 2016

This study explores whether consumers' sustainable luxury purchase (SLP), which refers to luxury consumers' conscientious purchase behavior of "buying luxury for its timeless style and durable quality that leads to extended product usage and less waste," leads to luxury consumer pleasure (LCP). Furthermore, the current study examines whether LCP leads to positive post-purchase behavior reflected by sustainable divestment intention (SDI) and repurchase intention (RI). In addition, by building on Coping Theory, we explore whether luxury consumer guilt (LCG) positively moderates the relationship between LCP and SDI. Our empirical findings of the SEM analysis based on 452 valid responses demonstrate the significant relationships between SLP and LCP, between LCP and SDI, and between LCP and RI. This implies the importance of SLP in creating a favorable consumer response, which further leads to consumers' intentions to make a sustainable divestment and to repurchase luxury. Furthermore, the critical moderating role LCG plays in the relationship between LCP and SDI was supported, stressing the importance of guilt as a trigger of consumers' sustainable divestment behavior.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.7
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• pp.1162-1169
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• 1999

Modern livestock production facilities face both challenges and opportunities with respect to sustainable manure management practices. Nutrient recycling is constrained by the size of modern livestock operations, the low nutrient density of liquid manures, and the spatial and temporal variability of manure nutrient concentrations. These constraints can and must be addressed or farmers will be increasingly drawn to nutrient wasting strategies such as anaerobic lagoons, wetlands, and other systems designed to treat and discharge nutrients to the environment. Intentional discharge of nutrients is difficult to justify in a sustainable agricultural production system, since replacing those nutrients through chemical fertilization requires considerable expenditure of energy. In contrast, there are several currently viable technologies which provide the homogenization and stabilization needed to successfully compete against chemical fertilizers, including composting, pelletization, and anaerobic digestion. Some of these technologies, particularly anaerobic digestion and composting, also open up increased opportunities to market the energy and nutrients in manure to non-agricultural uses. Future advances in biotechnology are likely to demonstrate additional options to transform manure into fuels, chemicals, and other non-agricultural products.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.74-84
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• 2024

Background: Despite many environmental problems, plastic waste emissions have been a significant surge during last few decades in the Republic of Korea. Furthermore, the emergence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has lead to an increased use and disposal of plastic waste worldwide. This paper tried to present summarized data related to the production and disposal of plastics especially before and after the COVID-19 pandemic with environmental impacts of plastics. Also, review of plastic waste reduction policies and feasible policies to promote an act for a safe, sustainable environment are presented. Results: Plastics cause many environmental problems due to their non-degrading properties and have a huge direct and indirect impact on Ecosystems and Public Health. Microplastics need a lot of attention because their environmental effects are not yet fully identified. Despite plastic's significant impact on climate change, the impact is not yet widely known to the public. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of plastic has surged and recycling has decreased due to the increase in delivery food and online shopping. Korea is introducing very active plastic and waste management policies, but it is necessary to implement more active policies by referring to the cases of other countries. Conclusions: In this article, we have scrutinized the evolution of plastic waste generation in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and delved into policy frameworks adopted by other nations, which South Korea can draw valuable lessons from. The formidable challenges posed by plastic waste, the remarkable shifts witnessed during the COVID-19 era, and the multifaceted response strategies elucidated in this paper all play a pivotal role in steering South Korea toward a sustainable future.

• International conference on construction engineering and project management
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• 2017.10a
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• pp.321-327
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• 2017

China is experiencing the urbanization at an unprecedented speed and scale in human history. The continuing growth of China's big cities, both in city land and population, has already led to great challenges in China's urban planning and construction activities, such as the continuous increase of construction and demolition (C&D) waste. Therefore, how to characterize cities' construction activities, particularly dynamically quantify the flows of building materials and construction debris, has become a pressing problem to alleviate the current shortage of resources and realize urban sustainable development. Accordingly, this study is designed to employ 4D-GIS (four dimensions-Geographic Information System) and Internet Plus to offer new approach for accurate but dynamic C&D waste management. The present study established a spatio-temporal pattern and material metabolism evolution model to characterize the geo-distribution of C&D waste by combing material flow analysis (MFA) and 4D-GIS. In addition, this study developed a mobile application (APP) for C&D waste trading and information management, which could be more effective for stakeholders to obtain useful information. Moreover, a cloud database was built in the APP to disclose the flows of C&D waste by the monitoring information from vehicles at regional level. To summarize, these findings could provide basic data and management methods for the supply and reverse supply of building materials. Meanwhile, the methodologies are practical to C&D waste management and beyond.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.682-688
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• 2016

Food waste has recognized one of useful sources for potentially agricultural application to supply organic matter and nutrients in arable soil. However, there was little information on application of food waste compost related to the maturity and NaCl content in arable soil. This study evaluated the effect of food waste compost application on yield and fertility in soil under flooding and upland condition. The yields in rice and pepper cultivation decreased with increasing the rate of food waste compost application in soil (p<0.05). Maximum yields of rice ($49.0g\;plant^{-1}$) and pepper ($204g\;plant^{-1}$) were shown at 10 and $30Mg\;ha^{-1}$ of food waste compost application, respectively. The N, P, and K contents in grain and plant residues increased by the application of food waste compost, there was no difference on Na/K ratio in plant tissue among the treatments. Application of food waste compost resulted in the increase of pH, EC, TC, available P contents in soil after crop harvest, especially, which was shown the increase of the CEC and exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) contents in irrespective of water condition. In conclusion, application of food waste compost in soil was effective on the supply of the organic matter and nutrient. However, it might need caution to apply food waste compost for sustainable productivity in arable soil because of potential Na accumulation.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.211-219
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• 2019

Since improper management practices of solid medical waste (SMW) could potentially result in serious health risks and environmental problems, it is very important to properly treat and dispose of the medical wastes. In this study, current practices of SMW management from storage to final disposal stage in 12 health care facilities (HCFs) of Burundi were investigated using the official government reports. The results showed that 75% and 92% of HCFs used uncovered wheelbarrows and trucks for on-site or off-site SMW transportation, respectively, indicating that most transportation equipment and waste workers are not safely protected. The results also showed that 92.8% of SMW (15,736.4 ton) from all 12 HCFs were inappropriately disposed of through uncontrolled land disposal and incineration. If pharmaceutical wastes and discarded medical plastics (29.5% of SMW) can be separated and treated properly, the treatment costs can be reduced and resource savings can be achieved. Raising awareness of healthcare workers and general public about potential health effects arising from improper SMW management, sufficient financial and human resources for the treatment facilities (especially incinerators), and effective regulations and guidelines for transportation and treatment of SWM are some of the major tasks for safe and sustainable medical waste management in Burundi.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.32 no.11
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• pp.745-756
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• 2023

Growing stringent global regulations in Korea poses a threat to corporate sustainability. Companies must respond strategically to navigate these regulations and avoid greenwashing. Objective of this research was to analyze how Korean companies are responding to the global trend of reducing plastic use and propose improved management strategies. Seven indicators were developed to assess companies' post-plastic strategies and applied to analyze the sustainability reports of Amore Pacific and LG Household & HealthCare. These indicators included, 1) disclosure of plastic raw materials used by weight or volume, 2) disclosure of recycled plastic raw materials used by weight or volume, 3) disclosure of waste recycling, reuse amounts, and disposal using waste treatment method 4) strategies to reduce environmental impact of plastics, 5) plastic packaging, reduce, recycle, reuse, and composting (in the real environment), 6) plastic management roadmap for the circular economy, and 7) education for sustainable plastic management. Based on the review of considered companies, we propose in-listed sustainable plastics management strategies: disclosing the ratio of plastic raw materials and recycled raw materials for all products, considering recycling rate throughout the product value chain, and not only for the production phase, reviewing carbon dioxide emissions based on life cycle assessment rather than reducing plastic consumption, studying the biodegradability of biodegradable plastics in natural environment such as soil, considering the consumer's perspective.