Semiconductor Waste, Samsung Recycles 98%... All Sites Certified 'Zero Waste Landfill'

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyewon] Samsung Electronics' semiconductor sites both domestically and internationally have received the world's highest level of 'Zero Waste to Landfill' certification from the internationally recognized environmental safety organization UL (Underwriters Laboratories). This is a case where Samsung Electronics' eco-friendly green management, prioritizing the global environment, has borne fruit.

Samsung Electronics announced on the 11th that starting with Austin, USA in January, a total of eight sites?including five domestic sites (Giheung, Hwaseong, Pyeongtaek, Onyang, Cheonan) and two in China (Xi'an, Suzhou)?have obtained the 'Gold' grade certification for Zero Waste to Landfill. This is the first case in the semiconductor industry.

The Zero Waste to Landfill certification grants grades based on the percentage of waste generated at a site that is reused as resources: Platinum (100%), Gold (99?95%), Silver (94?90%), and Certification (80% or higher). It is a representative indicator evaluating a company's resource circulation efforts.

The average resource circulation rate of the certified sites this time is 98.1%, with more than 590,000 tons of the approximately 600,000 tons of waste generated at Samsung Electronics' domestic semiconductor sites being recycled or recovered as thermal energy.

The resource circulation rate at Samsung Electronics' semiconductor sites is more than 10% higher than the domestic average. The waste corresponding to this 10%, about 60,000 tons, when converted to greenhouse gases, amounts to approximately 2,640 tons of CO2 annually. This is equivalent to the amount absorbed by planting 400,000 pine trees. In particular, the Hwaseong DSR Tower, where semiconductor R&D personnel work, achieved complete zero landfill waste for the first time in Korea and received the 'Platinum' grade.

Since the late 1990s, Samsung Electronics has continuously made efforts for resource circulation, such as using large amounts of wastewater sludge (chemical crystallization) generated during semiconductor production as raw materials for cement manufacturing. Since 2018, the company has set a goal of zero waste discharge and has been researching the recyclability of various wastes and investing in facilities.

In particular, to reduce wastewater sludge, one of the largest waste types, research was conducted to improve the efficiency of dehydration pumps and filters, reducing sludge by 75,000 tons annually. Additionally, to utilize waste liquid, investment was made in waste liquid discharge piping facilities on all production lines, and support was provided for the expansion costs of facilities at partner companies that process this waste.

Employees also participated in campaigns to separate recyclable materials and minimize the use of disposable items, reducing incinerated waste by 295 tons annually. Recognizing these efforts, Samsung Electronics received the Presidential Citation for Leading Resource Circulation Companies in September last year.

Jung Hyunseok, CEO of UL Korea, said, "Samsung Electronics is continuously conducting research and new attempts based on trust with waste disposal partners," adding, "As a result of this cooperation, all sites were able to achieve high grades."

Park Chanhoon, Vice President of Samsung Electronics DS Division Global Infrastructure Headquarters, emphasized, "The efforts of all employees for the environment have borne fruit," and added, "Eco-friendliness is no longer a choice but a necessity, and we will fulfill the corporate social responsibility to protect the global environment."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.