The accessibility and accuracy of the data for the advancement of national waste statistics in South Korea were examined in this study and then compared to those of the European Union, the United States, and Japan. Accessibility and accuracy were each examined by three indices, which revealed that accessibility was generally lacking, except that Korea processed and provided a key summary. Regarding accuracy, the recycling calculation method, about which some concerns have recently been rAised, was reviewed in this study; it was found that the tallying of recycled waste volume in South Korea has not been carried out scientifically. This result indicates that the data that should be used in the future to determine whether resource recycling objectives have been met and to calculate the greenhouse gas inventory are inaccurate. Furthermore, the differences between countries in the standards used to determine the amount of incinerated waste and energy recycling in completing the greenhouse gas inventory were verified in this study. Complying with ever-changing waste policies requires establishing measures for advancing the accessibility and accuracy of national waste statistics.

• 박상우(저탄소자원순환연구소) | Sang-Woo Park (Low-Carbon & Resource Cycle Research Institute) Corresponding author