From 2025, Construction Waste Banned from Sudogwon Landfill... Over 99% Recycling Rate Achieved

Ministry of Environment Signs MOU with Construction Resources Mutual Aid Association and Construction Resources Association

Establishment of Construction Waste Sorting Standards and Standardization of Construction Waste Disposal Costs
Mandatory External Storage Facilities and Installation of Roofs on Disposal Facilities by 2029

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Joo Sang-don] The construction waste disposal industry has decided to stop bringing construction waste to the metropolitan landfill starting in 2025. They also plan to increase the recycling rate to over 99% by 2025.

The Ministry of Environment announced on the 25th that on the afternoon of the 26th, it will sign a "Business Agreement for Environmentally Friendly Treatment and Promotion of Recycling of Construction Waste" at the Korea Construction Resources Association with the Korea Construction Resources Mutual Aid Association and the Korea Construction Resources Association, containing these details.

This business agreement includes six agreed points to increase the recycling rate of construction waste by the disposal industry: ▲ recycling over 99% of construction waste ▲ banning the import of construction waste to the metropolitan landfill from 2025 ▲ strengthening construction waste sorting standards (non-combustible materials within 10%) ▲ standardizing construction waste disposal costs ▲ installing external storage facilities for recycled aggregate ▲ mandatory installation of roofs on construction waste disposal facilities by 2029.

First, the construction waste disposal industry will, based on this agreement, maximize sorting of entrusted construction waste and minimize landfill amounts to maintain the recycling rate of construction waste at over 99% after 2025, up from the current 98%.

To this end, the construction waste disposal industry will crush and sort construction waste in three or more stages and additionally sort residual materials to significantly increase the production of recycled aggregate. Currently, among 590 intermediate treatment companies, 31% operate crushing and sorting facilities of less than three stages.

Also, in line with the ban on direct landfill of household waste at the metropolitan landfill in 2026, the construction waste disposal industry has decided to stop bringing construction waste and residual materials to the metropolitan landfill starting in 2025.

An official from the Ministry of Environment explained, "Since construction waste, which accounts for 50% of the metropolitan landfill volume, and household waste, which accounts for 27%, will be banned from landfill in 2025 and 2026 respectively, the shortage of landfill capacity at the metropolitan landfill will be partially alleviated. When the metropolitan landfill import is banned, construction waste and residual materials generated in the metropolitan area will be landfilled at 17 private landfill facilities operating in and near the metropolitan area and 11 private landfill facilities currently under construction."

Sorting standards will also be strengthened. Currently, the proportion of non-combustible materials in residuals generated at construction waste intermediate treatment facilities is about 20-30%, and there have been concerns that incineration efficiency decreases when incinerating these non-combustible materials. Therefore, residuals generated during the recycling process of construction waste will be sorted as much as possible so that the content of non-combustible materials that do not burn is within 10%, and then processed at incineration facilities or others.

Standardization of disposal costs will also be promoted. The Ministry of Environment has calculated the appropriate disposal costs for construction waste through a specialized institution to prevent confusion caused by the rise in disposal costs due to the ban on bringing residual construction waste to the metropolitan landfill and to prevent improper disposal of construction waste. The Ministry plans to announce this early next year. This cost announcement is a government notice under the law and must be mandatorily applied to construction projects ordered by public institutions.

Additionally, in response to criticism that external storage of recycled aggregate is unsightly, when external storage is necessary, it will be stored in storage facilities equipped with floors, walls, and roofs. Furthermore, the Ministry of Environment and the construction waste disposal industry have agreed to install membrane structures (roof facilities) or indoor facilities (roof and wall facilities) at construction waste input, crushing, and sorting facilities by 2029 to improve the negative perception of construction waste recycling facilities.

Minister of Environment Han Jeong-ae said, "In line with the 2050 carbon neutrality era, in handling construction waste, which accounts for 45% of total waste, we hope to minimize landfill and incineration and maximize recycling so that recycled aggregate made from construction waste will be used more widely."

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