In this study, the recycling processes of construction and demolition waste (C&D waste) were analyzed, and its national recycling rate was determined using material flow analysis (MFA). Available statistical data provided by Ministry of Environment and Korea Environment Corporation were used for the MFA study. The collected data were carefully examined and validated by field investigations. System boundary for MFA covered from waste generation from construction sites to final disposal in 2013. The field investigation showed that recycled aggregate is produced through mechanical shredding, separation, and screening processes of C&D waste. The production efficiency (or process yield) was estimated to be approximately 81.2% on average. The foreign materials in the waste accounted for 18.8% by weight. The separated impurities were sent to recycling facilities, incineration facilities, or landfill sites, depending on the physicochemical characteristics. Efficiency of recycling facilities and the statistical data were integrated to estimate the national actual recycling rate, which turned out to be 87.7% in 2013. Approximately 49.1% of the construction-related waste was recycled as recycled aggregate for concrete production and road base layer for asphalt pavement. Based on the result of MFA, there is 9.8% difference between the actual recycling rate in this study and reported recycling rate by national statistics. In the future, more various C&D waste treatment and disposal facilities, along with aggregate recycling facility, should be investigated to verify the actual recycling rate determined by this study. Statistical accuracy should be further refined through additional field investigations. Our findings can be applicable to development of recycling policies and best management practices for C&D waste streams.

SLC has installed and operated a 50 tons/day scale pilot plant of construction & demolition waste (c&d waste) separation/ selection pilot plant in order to utilize wood wastes among construction wastes carried into landfill sites as energy sources, etc. In the present study, for optimized operation of the aforementioned pilot plant, the characteristics of operation of the plant were assessed in relation to changes in operation conditions and the characteristics of inputted wastes. Based on the results of an experiment conducted to select sieves of vibrating screens for the discharge of incombustible materials, wood waste recovery rates were the highest when 8mm sieves were applied but the purity of wood wastes and combustible materials was higher when 20 mm sieves were applied. By supplementing the shape of the overflower of the wet separator, combustible materials stagnant in the water tank were reduced and the rate of recovery of combustible materials including wood was improved by around 10%. It was identified that not only the amounts of wood wastes and combustible materials among inputted wastes but also the ratio of coarse combustible materials to entire combustible materials could affect operation time. Therefore, if processes to select or smash coarse combustible materials in advance are added and bottle neck points are supplemented to be prepared for an increases in the amount of inputted combustible materials, construction wood waste selection/separation facilities could be stably operated even when the characteristics of inputted wastes are changed.