The Management of Food Waste Recycling for a Sustainable Future: A Case Study on South Korea

South Korea has made remarkable progress in food waste recycling through efficient policies. Around 30% of total waste is food waste, with over 90% of it effectively separated and collected. Challenges remain in optimizing biogas production and utilizing food waste for animal feed. The Volume-Based...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inSustainability Vol. 16; no. 2; p. 854
Main Authors Lee, Esther, Shurson, Gerald, Oh, Sang-Hyon, Jang, Jae-Cheol
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Basel MDPI AG 01.01.2024
Subjects
Biogas
Biomass energy
Case studies
Climate change
Costs (Law)
Emissions
Environmental impact
Feed industry
Fines & penalties
Natural resources
Recycling (Waste, etc.)
Refuse and refuse disposal
South Korea
Waste management
South Korea
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Summary:South Korea has made remarkable progress in food waste recycling through efficient policies. Around 30% of total waste is food waste, with over 90% of it effectively separated and collected. Challenges remain in optimizing biogas production and utilizing food waste for animal feed. The Volume-Based Waste Fee system, initiated in 1995, reduced waste and promoted recycling. In 2005, the ban on direct food waste landfilling further encouraged separation and proper disposal. The Master Plan for Reducing Food Wastes, launched in 2010, led to the nationwide implementation of the Weight-Based Food Waste Fee (WBFWF) system in 2013. Drawing inspiration from Japan’s policies and strengthening them with the WBFWF system, South Korea has evolved its food waste management. It also adapted European policies to enhance its regulations. This review provides a valuable waste management framework for countries seeking to improve their recycling and resource utilization initiatives.
ISSN:2071-1050
2071-1050
DOI:10.3390/su16020854