Since the Framework Act on Resource Circulation was enacted in 2018, the government should establish a National Resource Circulation Master Plan every 10 years, which defines mid- to long-term policy goals and directions on the efficient use of resources, prevention of waste generation and recycling of waste. In addition, we must set mid- to longterm and stepwise targets for the final disposal rate, recycling rate (based on sorted recyclable materials and recycled products), and energy recovery rate of wastes, and relevant measures should be taken to achieve these targets. However, the current industrial waste (IW) statistics have limitations in setting these targets because the final disposal rate and recycling rate are calculated as the ratio of the recycling facility input to the IW generation. In this study, the material flow from the collection stage to the final disposal of industrial waste was analyzed based on the generation of 2016, and the actual recycling amount, actual incineration amount, final disposal amount and their rates were calculated. The effect on the recycling, incineration and final disposal rates was examined by changing the treatment method of nonhazardous wastes from the factory and construction and demolition wastes, which were put in landfills in 2016. In addition, the variation of the waste treatment charge was investigated according to the change of treatment methods. The results of this study are expected to be effectively used to establish the National Resource Circulation Master Plan and industrial waste management policy in the future in South Korea.

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.