Seoul City Hosts Academic Forum on 'Energy Recovery from Municipal Solid Waste' for Circular Economy

Korean Society of Waste Resource Circulation Holds Forum
Domestic and International Experts Participate in Waste Sector Special Session Linked with International Academic Event ISEE

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] On the 4th, Seoul City announced that it held an academic forum on the 3rd at the Korea Science and Technology Center's medium conference room, titled "Energy Recovery from Municipal Solid Waste in Seoul for a Circular Economy," in collaboration with the Korean Society of Waste Management and Resource Circulation.

This forum was organized as a special session linked to the international academic event ISEE, to discuss waste policies and resource recovery facilities with domestic and international experts, aiming to explore the performance of facilities from a global perspective. ISEE is an international academic conference promoting resource circulation of electrical and electronic waste and end-of-life vehicles.

The forum proceeded with presentations and expert discussions on topics including "Carbon Neutrality and Circular Economy through Waste Management," "Current Status and Efforts of Waste Management in Japan," "History and Development of Waste-to-Energy in Korea," "Seoul City's Waste Management and Expected Performance of New Resource Recovery Facilities," and "Health Impacts on Residents from Seoul City's Resource Recovery Facilities."

Dr. Werner Bauer, the German representative of the International Waste-to-Energy Council, presented on strategies for achieving carbon neutrality and building a circular economy through proper waste management. Professor Masaki Takaoka of Kyoto University, Vice President of the Japan Waste Management Association, explained the history of waste incineration in Japan and the importance of resource recovery facilities utilizing waste, focusing on Japan's waste management status and efforts toward carbon neutrality.

Professor Emeritus Seo Yong-chil of Yonsei University reviewed policy achievements through the Waste Management Act and the Framework Act on Resource Circulation in the history and technological development of waste-to-energy in Korea, emphasizing the necessity of installing resource recovery facilities. Professor Emeritus Lee Dong-hoon of the University of Seoul examined resource recovery facilities for a circular economy in the context of Seoul City's waste management and the expected performance of new resource recovery facilities, proposing the roles of Seoul's new resource recovery facilities. Following this, Professor Jang Yoon-seok, Chair Professor at UNIST, reviewed the health impacts on residents based on long-term monitoring results of Seoul City's resource recovery facilities, focusing on the effects of long-term exposure on health.

Yoo Yeon-sik, Head of Seoul City's Climate and Environment Headquarters, stated, "To establish a circular economy and prevent a waste crisis, it is essential to incinerate residual waste after recycling to recover energy," adding, "Seoul City is considering the roles and performance that new resource recovery facilities must have from various angles, and above all, we will strive to alleviate the concerns of citizens opposing the construction."

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