Limitations and alternatives of the System for Post-use Treatment of Biodegradable Plastic

Plastics are widely used in various industries based on their wide utilization and durability. However, there is a problem of plastic waste treatment because it takes a very long time to decompose naturally. As a result, biodegradable plastics that can be naturally decomposed by microorganisms have...

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Main Authors: Keon Ki Kang, Su Yeon Kim, Jun Woo Park, Jeong Hun Park
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Korean Society of Environmental Engineers 2025-07-01
Series:대한환경공학회지
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.jksee.or.kr/upload/pdf/KSEE-2025-47-7-509.pdf
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author Keon Ki Kang
Su Yeon Kim
Jun Woo Park
Jeong Hun Park
author_facet Keon Ki Kang
Su Yeon Kim
Jun Woo Park
Jeong Hun Park
author_sort Keon Ki Kang
collection DOAJ
description Plastics are widely used in various industries based on their wide utilization and durability. However, there is a problem of plastic waste treatment because it takes a very long time to decompose naturally. As a result, biodegradable plastics that can be naturally decomposed by microorganisms have been attracting attention, and the demand is continuously increasing. However, questions have been raised about the proper management and treatment of biodegradable plastics in the domestic waste management system. This is because biodegradable plastics are collected together with general plastics and processed without proper decomposition environments. Therefore, the management and treatment status of biodegradable plastics was reviewed by synthesizing domestic and foreign papers, reports, websites, and press releases from the Ministry of Environment. Frequent fluctuations in the domestic certification system, lack of effectiveness of greenwashing regulations, increase in greenwashing cases, classification of general waste of biodegradable plastics, absence of dedicated composting facilities due to economic inefficiency, and lack of collection systems and treatment methods were identified. Based on this, improvement measures were suggested by comparing and analyzing with foreign cases. It was found that it is necessary to introduce a detailed certification system tailored to the environment in which products are used internationally, establish a convenient information provision system by strengthening cooperation with private organizations, improve a system centered on greenwashing prevention, mandate environmental capacity-building education, establish a screening system using near-infrared spectroscopy, expand participation of private companies in biogasification technology, and improve the system.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1225-5025
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publisher Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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series 대한환경공학회지
spelling doaj-art-8f12638509b0468aaabc0db0624b6d8c2025-08-20T03:56:05ZengKorean Society of Environmental Engineers대한환경공학회지1225-50252383-78102025-07-0147750951910.4491/KSEE.2025.47.7.5094606Limitations and alternatives of the System for Post-use Treatment of Biodegradable PlasticKeon Ki Kang0Su Yeon Kim1Jun Woo Park2Jeong Hun Park3Department of Environment and Energy Engineering, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Environment and Energy Engineering, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Environment and Energy Engineering, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Environment and Energy Engineering, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Republic of KoreaPlastics are widely used in various industries based on their wide utilization and durability. However, there is a problem of plastic waste treatment because it takes a very long time to decompose naturally. As a result, biodegradable plastics that can be naturally decomposed by microorganisms have been attracting attention, and the demand is continuously increasing. However, questions have been raised about the proper management and treatment of biodegradable plastics in the domestic waste management system. This is because biodegradable plastics are collected together with general plastics and processed without proper decomposition environments. Therefore, the management and treatment status of biodegradable plastics was reviewed by synthesizing domestic and foreign papers, reports, websites, and press releases from the Ministry of Environment. Frequent fluctuations in the domestic certification system, lack of effectiveness of greenwashing regulations, increase in greenwashing cases, classification of general waste of biodegradable plastics, absence of dedicated composting facilities due to economic inefficiency, and lack of collection systems and treatment methods were identified. Based on this, improvement measures were suggested by comparing and analyzing with foreign cases. It was found that it is necessary to introduce a detailed certification system tailored to the environment in which products are used internationally, establish a convenient information provision system by strengthening cooperation with private organizations, improve a system centered on greenwashing prevention, mandate environmental capacity-building education, establish a screening system using near-infrared spectroscopy, expand participation of private companies in biogasification technology, and improve the system.http://www.jksee.or.kr/upload/pdf/KSEE-2025-47-7-509.pdfbiodegradable plasticsgreenwashingdeficiencies in certification systemscollection and disposal infrastructuresustainable management strategies
spellingShingle Keon Ki Kang
Su Yeon Kim
Jun Woo Park
Jeong Hun Park
Limitations and alternatives of the System for Post-use Treatment of Biodegradable Plastic
대한환경공학회지
biodegradable plastics
greenwashing
deficiencies in certification systems
collection and disposal infrastructure
sustainable management strategies
title Limitations and alternatives of the System for Post-use Treatment of Biodegradable Plastic
title_full Limitations and alternatives of the System for Post-use Treatment of Biodegradable Plastic
title_fullStr Limitations and alternatives of the System for Post-use Treatment of Biodegradable Plastic
title_full_unstemmed Limitations and alternatives of the System for Post-use Treatment of Biodegradable Plastic
title_short Limitations and alternatives of the System for Post-use Treatment of Biodegradable Plastic
title_sort limitations and alternatives of the system for post use treatment of biodegradable plastic
topic biodegradable plastics
greenwashing
deficiencies in certification systems
collection and disposal infrastructure
sustainable management strategies
url http://www.jksee.or.kr/upload/pdf/KSEE-2025-47-7-509.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT keonkikang limitationsandalternativesofthesystemforpostusetreatmentofbiodegradableplastic
AT suyeonkim limitationsandalternativesofthesystemforpostusetreatmentofbiodegradableplastic
AT junwoopark limitationsandalternativesofthesystemforpostusetreatmentofbiodegradableplastic
AT jeonghunpark limitationsandalternativesofthesystemforpostusetreatmentofbiodegradableplastic