The purpose of this study is to analysis the materials flow of steel cans from producing to discarding, finding problems in materials flow diagram in performance recycling of steel cans, and improvement ways for relevant systems and policies. Through supply various statics in KECO, it was found that the amount of steel calculated in Korea is 80,555 thousand tons. This amounts is reused from steel scrap of 35,143 thousand tons. After that producing steel was manufactured to steel plate, and manufactured steel plate produced steel cans of 273 thousand tons. The steel cans of 103.2 thousand tons was released in Korea. The 89.5 thousand tons of wastes for recycling was 86.8% for total of 103.2 thousand tons for recycling. The amount of recycling was assumed that there is no loss in collection, sorting and packing stage. According to such studies, a materials flow diagram was drafted and the problems in recycling for each stage were reviewed. In consequence plan to improve consist of materials and structure in cans in production stage, plans to restrict inclusion of foreign particles in discardment and selection section, plan to provide different support in funding and granting quality ratings in the sorting and compression section was suggested.

본 연구에서는 국내 재활용 제도 개선을 위한 하나의 일환으로 철캔의 재활용 단계에서의 물질흐름을 분석하고, 해외사례를 검토하였다. 2013년도 기준으로 연간 철캔은 222천 톤 생산되었으며 생산된 양 중에 118.823천 톤이 수출되고 103.2천 톤이 출고된 것으로 나타났다. 재활용된 캔의 양은 89.5천 톤인 것으로 나타났으며, 이 수치는 출고된 철캔의 86.7%에 해당한다. 국내 철캔의 물질흐름을 분석한 결과 재활용단계의 수집, 운반 단계에서 민간 재활용품 선별장의 이물질 혼입량이 높아 선별장의 상태가 좋지 않은 것으로 나타났다. 이는 무게 당 판매단가를 늘리기 위하여 의도적으로 이물질을 투입하는 등의 행위도 일부 있는 것으로 판단되며, 재활용 선별과정 중 미세한 플라스틱 조각이나 기타 이물질의 혼입이 있는 것으로 나타났다. 해외사례 검토결과, 일본의 캔 재활용률 수치는 90%이상으로 조사되었다. 2013년 일본의 금속캔 통계정보에 따르면 일본의 재활용률은 92.9%로 집계되었다. 2000년 4월 금속캔 재활용의 의무화를 말하는 ‘용기 포장 재활용법’이 시행 되면서 금속캔 제조업체를 필두로 제조사, 유통업체들의 적극적인 재활용 정책 수용으로 재활용률의 상승을 실현할 수 있었으며, 음료캔 유통 지점에 설치된 분리수거 박스는 재활용률 상승의 크게 기여한 것으로 분석되었다. 미국 캘리포니아의 재활용 체계는 CRV(California Refund Value) 시스템을 통해 가정에서 직접 분리수거 및 좋은 금속캔 선별상태로 배출되어 선별단계에서의 예산 감축이 발생하는 것으로 조사되었다. 국내 철캔의 물질흐름 분석 및 해외사례를 분석한 결과, 국내 재활용 정책 개선을 위해서는 철캔의 포장재질에 대한 평가를 통한 재활용 분담금을 차등 지급 방안, 품질 선별 우수사업장을 선정하여 재정적 지원으로 선별사업자의 자발적 선별 환경 개선을 촉진, 폐캔 배출 시 적절한 배출요령에 대한 지속적 캠페인 및 교육 시행 그리고 선별 우수사업장을 지정하여 사업장별 평가 등급을 책정하는 방안 등이 필요할 것으로 판단된다.

The purpose of this study is to identify the materials flow of aluminum cans from its production, manufacturing, distribution, consumption to its discarding, while finding problems in the materials flow diagram in carrying out recycling, and to present improvement measures for relevant systems and policies. Through various statistics, it was found that the actual amount of aluminum ingots distributed in Korea is 1,808,597 tons. From this 381,802 tons of aluminum plates were used for domestic uses, 75,070 tons were used to produce cans, and it was found that 50,073 tons of can products were produced and distributed in Korea. The 50,073 tons of wastes for separate collection was 96% and recycling was 76% for a total of 38,297 tons for recycling. Upon examining the recycling path, it was found that can-to-can was 35% equivalent to 13,403 tons, while 14,100 tons were melted for alloys and 10,794 tons were used as deoxidizing agents for blast furnaces. According to such studies, a materials flow diagram was drafted and the problems in recycling for each stage were reviewed. In result, plans to improve packaging materials and structures in the production stage, plans to restrict inclusion of foreign particles in the discard and selection stage, plans to provide different support in funding and granting quality ratings in the sorting and compression stages, and plans to apply as recycling designated business systems for high-value recycling in the resourcing stage were proposed.