IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v16y2024i2p854-d1322238.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

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

Author

Listed:
  • Esther Lee

    (Division of Animal Science, Institute of Agricultural and Life Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52725, Republic of Korea)

  • Gerald Shurson

    (Department of Animal Science, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA)

  • Sang-Hyon Oh

    (Division of Animal Science, Institute of Agricultural and Life Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52725, Republic of Korea)

  • Jae-Cheol Jang

    (Division of Animal Science, Institute of Agricultural and Life Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52725, Republic of Korea)

Abstract

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Esther Lee & Gerald Shurson & Sang-Hyon Oh & Jae-Cheol Jang, 2024. "The Management of Food Waste Recycling for a Sustainable Future: A Case Study on South Korea," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-17, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:2:p:854-:d:1322238
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/2/854/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/2/854/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. De Clercq, Djavan & Wen, Zongguo & Gottfried, Oliver & Schmidt, Franziska & Fei, Fan, 2017. "A review of global strategies promoting the conversion of food waste to bioenergy via anaerobic digestion," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 204-221.
    2. Parveen Fatemeh Rupani & Abbas F. M. Alkarkhi & Mohammad Shahadat & Asha Embrandiri & Hany S. EL-Mesery & Hongcheng Wang & Weilan Shao, 2019. "Bio-Optimization of Chemical Parameters and Earthworm Biomass for Efficient Vermicomposting of Different Palm Oil Mill Waste Mixtures," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-10, June.
    3. Alessandra DiGiacomo & David W.-L. Wu & Peter Lenkic & Bud Fraser & Jiaying Zhao & Alan Kingstone, 2018. "Convenience improves composting and recycling rates in high-density residential buildings," Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 61(2), pages 309-331, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Emilia den Boer & Kamil Banaszkiewicz & Jan den Boer & Iwona Pasiecznik, 2022. "Energy Recovery from Waste—Closing the Municipal Loop," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-20, February.
    2. Guadalupe Martínez-Borreguero & Jesús Maestre-Jiménez & Milagros Mateos-Núñez & Francisco Luis Naranjo-Correa, 2019. "Knowledge Analysis of the Prospective Secondary School Teacher on a Key Concept in Sustainability: Waste," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-28, February.
    3. Zamri, M.F.M.A. & Hasmady, Saiful & Akhiar, Afifi & Ideris, Fazril & Shamsuddin, A.H. & Mofijur, M. & Fattah, I. M. Rizwanul & Mahlia, T.M.I., 2021. "A comprehensive review on anaerobic digestion of organic fraction of municipal solid waste," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    4. Tingting Liu & Qian Zhang & Xiaowen Kang & Jiaqi Hou & Tao Luo & Yi Zhang, 2022. "Household Food Waste to Biogas in Västerås, Sweden: A Comprehensive Case Study of Waste Valorization," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-22, September.
    5. Negri, Camilla & Ricci, Marina & Zilio, Massimo & D'Imporzano, Giuliana & Qiao, Wei & Dong, Renjie & Adani, Fabrizio, 2020. "Anaerobic digestion of food waste for bio-energy production in China and Southeast Asia: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    6. Do, Quynh & Ramudhin, Amar & Colicchia, Claudia & Creazza, Alessandro & Li, Dong, 2021. "A systematic review of research on food loss and waste prevention and management for the circular economy," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 239(C).
    7. Olkis, Christopher & Brandani, Stefano & Santori, Giulio, 2019. "Design and experimental study of a small scale adsorption desalinator," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 253(C), pages 1-1.
    8. Qiao Wang & Huan Li & Kai Feng & Jianguo Liu, 2020. "Oriented Fermentation of Food Waste towards High-Value Products: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-29, October.
    9. Santo Fabio Corsino & Michele Torregrossa & Gaspare Viviani, 2021. "Biomethane Production from Anaerobic Co-Digestion of Selected Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste (OFMSW) with Sewage Sludge: Effect of the Inoculum to Substrate Ratio (ISR) and Mixture Composit," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-12, December.
    10. Li, Chao & He, Pinjing & Hao, Liping & Lü, Fan & Shao, Liming & Zhang, Hua, 2022. "Diverse acetate-oxidizing syntrophs contributing to biogas production from food waste in full-scale anaerobic digesters in China," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 193(C), pages 240-250.
    11. Bolen, T.J. & Hasan, Mahmudul & Conway, Timothy & Stéphane Yaméogo, Djigui David & Sanchez, Pablo & Rahman, Arifur & Azam, Hossain, 2022. "Feasibility assessment of biogas production from the anaerobic co-digestion of cheese whey, grease interceptor waste and pulped food waste for WRRF," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 254(PA).
    12. Roozbeh Feiz & Jonas Ammenberg & Annika Björn & Yufang Guo & Magnus Karlsson & Yonghui Liu & Yuxian Liu & Laura Shizue Moriga Masuda & Alex Enrich-Prast & Harald Rohracher & Kristina Trygg & Sepehr Sh, 2019. "Biogas Potential for Improved Sustainability in Guangzhou, China—A Study Focusing on Food Waste on Xiaoguwei Island," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-25, March.
    13. Kari-Anne Lyng & Lise Skovsgaard & Henrik Klinge Jacobsen & Ole Jørgen Hanssen, 2020. "The implications of economic instruments on biogas value chains: a case study comparison between Norway and Denmark," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 22(8), pages 7125-7152, December.
    14. Acuti, Diletta & Lemarié, Linda & Viglia, Giampaolo, 2023. "How to enhance the sustainable disposal of harmful products," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 186(PB).
    15. Daniele Duca & Giuseppe Toscano, 2022. "Biomass Energy Resources: Feedstock Quality and Bioenergy Sustainability," Resources, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-6, June.
    16. Dalke, Rachel & Demro, Delaney & Khalid, Yusra & Wu, Haoran & Urgun-Demirtas, Meltem, 2021. "Current status of anaerobic digestion of food waste in the United States," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    17. Woon, Kok Sin & Phuang, Zhen Xin & Lin, Zuchao & Lee, Chew Tin, 2021. "A novel food waste management framework combining optical sorting system and anaerobic digestion: A case study in Malaysia," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 232(C).
    18. Ryan Woodard & Anthea Rossouw, 2021. "An Evaluation of Interventions for Improving Pro-Environmental Waste Behaviour in Social Housing," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-16, June.
    19. Andante Hadi Pandyaswargo & Premakumara Jagath Dickella Gamaralalage & Chen Liu & Michael Knaus & Hiroshi Onoda & Faezeh Mahichi & Yanghui Guo, 2019. "Challenges and an Implementation Framework for Sustainable Municipal Organic Waste Management Using Biogas Technology in Emerging Asian Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(22), pages 1-27, November.
    20. Istrate, Ioan-Robert & Medina-Martos, Enrique & Galvez-Martos, Jose-Luis & Dufour, Javier, 2021. "Assessment of the energy recovery potential of municipal solid waste under future scenarios," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 293(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:2:p:854-:d:1322238. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.