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Sustainable Resources and Energy Recovery from Wastes towards a Circular Economy

A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "B: Energy and Environment".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2023) | Viewed by 10490

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Yong-Chul Jang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Environmental Engineering, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea
Interests: material flow analysis; waste and resource recycling; greenhouse gas and waste management; e-waste management

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, resource and energy recovery towards a circular economy has become an important issue of concern in many countries because current linear economy has caused extensive environmental pollution and resource depletion. Many researchers from scientific communities are seeking sustainable and scientific solutions for resource and energy recovery from waste materials in order to reduce potential environmental impacts and mitigate greenhouse gases upon disposal. Scientific studies related to resource circulation and energy recovery from wastes would contribute to increase resource efficiency and conserve energy resources by achieving a carbon-neutral society with a circular economy.

This Special Issue aims to present and disseminate the most recent advances related to resource and/or energy recovery, as well as policy, experiments, design, modelling, application, and management practices for all types of solid waste materials.

Prof. Dr. Yong-Chul Jang
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • energy recovery
  • resource recovery
  • greenhouse gases
  • material and chemical recycling
  • circular economy

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 4108 KiB  
Article
Analysis for End-of-Life Solar Panel Generations by Renewable Energy Supply towards Carbon Neutrality in South Korea
by Su-Hee Lee and Yong-Chul Jang
Energies 2023, 16(24), 8039; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16248039 - 13 Dec 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1608
Abstract
When solar panels reach end-of-life, the disposal of solar panel waste is an issue of concern because it creates environmental pollution if it is improperly disposed of. It is expected that such waste will probably be increasing as the widespread use of renewable [...] Read more.
When solar panels reach end-of-life, the disposal of solar panel waste is an issue of concern because it creates environmental pollution if it is improperly disposed of. It is expected that such waste will probably be increasing as the widespread use of renewable energy is adopted by taking measures associated with carbon neutrality. Thus, accurate prediction of solar panel waste with future demands for renewable energy is urgently needed for sustainable waste management. This study examined the amounts of solar panels to be retried by 2050 under three scenarios (S1-BAU, S2, S3). The amounts of solar panels to be retired are estimated by using the PBM (population balance model) with the Weibull distribution. According to the carbon neutral scenario (S3), the total amounts of solar panels to be retired are anticipated to be around 172 kt in 2030, 932 kt in 2040, and 3146 kt in 2050. The total volume of retired solar panels was projected to be 168 kt in 2030, 820 kt in 2040, and 2331 kt in 2050 under the government-led scenario (S2). The average recovery of end-of-life solar panels produced by the three scenarios in 2050 is 1531 kt, 337 kt, 535 kt, and 22 kt for glass, aluminum, silicon, and copper, respectively. Economic benefits by resource recovery of retired solar panels in 2050 range from $25.6 million in S1 to $519.1 million in S3. Based on the sensitivity analysis with the weight of solar panel (5% and 10% reduction), the results indicated that the annual volumes of retired solar panels mostly fell within the range of 4.9% to 10.0% in 2050. To confirm the predicted volumes of retired solar panels in this study, a further study is warranted because they can be influenced by other factors (e.g., weight, technology development, early loss rate, or reuse and recycling options). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Resources and Energy Recovery from Wastes towards a Circular Economy)
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19 pages, 5436 KiB  
Article
Feasibility Study of Closed-Loop Recycling for Plastic Generated from Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) in South Korea
by Won Hee Choi, Kook Pyo Pae, Nam Seok Kim, Hong Yoon Kang and Yong Woo Hwang
Energies 2023, 16(17), 6358; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16176358 - 1 Sep 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2284
Abstract
Plastics follow a linear economic structure, leading to detrimental environmental effects, such as global warming and ecosystem destruction, through incineration and accumulation throughout their life cycle. This study examined the types, potential generation amounts, and properties of recycled plastics from waste electrical and [...] Read more.
Plastics follow a linear economic structure, leading to detrimental environmental effects, such as global warming and ecosystem destruction, through incineration and accumulation throughout their life cycle. This study examined the types, potential generation amounts, and properties of recycled plastics from waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) to assess the feasibility of the closed-loop recycling of plastics from WEEE under South Korea’s EPR system. Actual data from companies were used to determine the factors, such as the processing volume of WEEE. As of 2021, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (53,363 tons), polypropylene (14,320 tons), and polystyrene (8199 tons) were the recycled plastics produced by both large and small WEEE. The properties of recycled plastics meet the specifications of new electrical and electronic products. In addition, an analysis using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology showed that the recycling effect (avoided emissions) reached 262,033 tons of CO2 eq. per year. Therefore, closed-loop recycling is the most suitable and effective method for reducing greenhouse gases. This paper presents the potential amount of recycled plastics generated from WEEE within South Korea’s regulatory framework, providing valuable foundational data for policy development for promoting the use of recycled plastics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Resources and Energy Recovery from Wastes towards a Circular Economy)
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14 pages, 3047 KiB  
Article
Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Incineration of Municipal Solid Waste in Seoul, South Korea
by Youngsun Kwon, Kyunghoon Choi and Yong-Chul Jang
Energies 2023, 16(12), 4791; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16124791 - 19 Jun 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3581
Abstract
Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the incineration of municipal solid waste (MSW) have become a concern in the solid waste community from the perspective of climate change mitigation and response. In this study, we aimed to estimate the GHG emissions from the incineration [...] Read more.
Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the incineration of municipal solid waste (MSW) have become a concern in the solid waste community from the perspective of climate change mitigation and response. In this study, we aimed to estimate the GHG emissions from the incineration of MSW in Seoul, with a population of about 10 million, by using the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) 2006 guideline and scenario analysis for 2030 and 2040. In 2021, Seoul generated 2899 kt of MSW/yr. Approximately 40% (1163 kt/yr) of Seoul’s MSW was disposable (or non-recyclable) waste. Out of the disposable waste, about 741 kt/yr of combustible waste was treated by incineration, resulting in 545 kt CO2 eq emissions, which was about 7.5 times higher than the 74 kt CO2 eq in 2000. The dominant contributor to the GHG emissions was plastic waste, accounting for the largest fraction of 92% (501 kt CO2 eq/yr in 2021). Scenario analysis showed that if the current situation (BAU scenario) is considered, with the assumption of no reduction in MSW generation, the capacity of Seoul’s four incineration facilities will be exceeded in 2029. All other scenarios (S1, S2, and S3) showed reduced amounts of MSW incineration and GHG emissions compared to the BAU scenario. Especially, S3 (waste reduction and increased recycling rate) revealed a 53% reduction when compared to the BAU scenario. Based on the results of our scenario analysis, it is expected that in 2040, the GHG emissions from incineration will be in a range of from about 389 kt CO2 eq to 832 kt CO2 eq, depending on the waste minimization policy and recycling efforts in the future. Strengthened regulations on and efforts towards plastic waste reduction and the recycling of MSW will be crucial with the perspectives of GHG emissions by incineration and resource recovery. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Resources and Energy Recovery from Wastes towards a Circular Economy)
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14 pages, 3024 KiB  
Article
Recycling and Material Flow Analysis of End-of-Life Fluorescent Lamps in South Korea
by Yong-Chul Jang, Kyunghoon Choi, Youngsun Kwon, Hakyun Song and Hyunhee Kim
Energies 2022, 15(23), 8825; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15238825 - 23 Nov 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2453
Abstract
Proper management and treatment of end-of-life fluorescent lamps with a toxic metal of mercury has attracted critical concern in the solid waste community. In this study, material flow analysis (MFA) and substance flow of mercury were performed on the lamps by life cycle [...] Read more.
Proper management and treatment of end-of-life fluorescent lamps with a toxic metal of mercury has attracted critical concern in the solid waste community. In this study, material flow analysis (MFA) and substance flow of mercury were performed on the lamps by life cycle in South Korea. It was found that, in 2020, approximately 2957 tons (or 27.9 million units) of end-of-life fluorescent lamps from households were collected and recycled by the recycling facilities in South Korea. Approximately 278 kg of mercury was recovered from the lamps and treated at the hazardous incineration facilities. Based on the results of dynamic flow analysis, the amount of fluorescent lamps to be retried is expected to continually decrease to be about 14.2 million units, which is estimated to be 23 kg of mercury. However, continued collection efforts on end-of-life fluorescent lamps owing to increasing demands for light-emitting diode lamps should be made from the perspectives of proper treatment of mercury as well as resource recovery. More detailed studies on other mercury-containing lamps (e.g., metal halogen lamps, high-pressure mercury lamps, and high-pressure sodium lamps) are warranted to determine mercury flows in waste streams for proper collection and treatment upon disposal. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Resources and Energy Recovery from Wastes towards a Circular Economy)
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