Incineration plants using solid refused fuel (SRF) should control their air pollution materials to minimize environmental impact. This study evaluated the emission of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin/dibenzofurans (PCDD/DFs) congener patterns in seven commercial incineration plants in Korea using SRF and biomass SRF (bio-SRF). We examined the reduction rate differences of PCDD/DFs, depending on the air pollutant control device. All seven incineration plants sufficiently managed their dioxin emissions. However, both SRF and bio-SRF incineration plants showed active chlorination reactions and resulted in a large amount of highly chlorinated dioxins. The average dioxin concentration was 0.02 ng international toxic equivalency quantity (I-TEQ)/Sm³. Ratios of 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDF and 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDF were high in the waste heat boilers of both SRF and bio-SRF incineration plants. The octachlorinated dibenzofuran (OCDF) ratio was only high in the SRF incineration plants. Octachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (OCDD) and OCDF exhibited high dioxin ratios. SRF incineration plants had a low ratio of OCDF to 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDF. In addition, the reduction rate of PCDD/DFs was substantially high after treatment with the air pollutant control device.

Alternative chemical and fuel oil produced from plastic waste may play a key role in national sustainable development. The Korean government has promoted several waste recycling policies including waste to energy. Here, we focus on the investigation of the oil and facility characteristics of plastic waste pyrolysis. Four pyrolysis facilities, which had different pyrolysis processes and produced various oil properties, were chosen in order to develop an advanced waste recycling policy. Pyrolysis oil recovery efficiency and chemical characteristics were influenced by feedstock and pyrolysis conditions. In terms of pyrolysis gases, the gas quantity was different due to the pyrolyzer operation conditions, but the characteristics of gas composition were not especially distinguished. In addition, air pollutants, such as carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NO_x), sulfur oxides (SO_x), and hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) from the pyrolysis process were analyzed to evaluate the environmental effects on the surrounding area. The air pollutant concentration varied, but those from the process were adequately controlled. From the aforementioned results, several improvements have been deduced to manage the pyrolysis oil facility and product in advanced policy decisions.

Due to the ban on the use of food waste as wet swine feed after the outbreak of African swine fever (ASF), 2900 tons/day of food waste and 1083 tons/day of food waste leachate were additionally generated. As an alternative treatment method for food waste leachate, the input of food waste leachate on weekends (5% of food waste leachate inflow, 100 tons/day) and its increased input (merge ratio 21.7%, 227.01 tons/day → 27.8%, 453.71 tons/day) into the digesters operated in a public sewage treatment plant were investigated. Additionally, the feasibility of the method was evaluated by analyzing the operation parameters, evaluating the operation efficiency, and identifying other environmental effects on the sewage treatment plant. In the case of input on weekends, the organic matter decomposition rate and gas production rate decreased by 8.0% and 9.5%, respectively, although the input on weekends was judged to be feasible, considering that the inflow into the WWTP increased by up to 206% due to the long-term (7 weeks) monsoon. In the case of the increased input of food waste leachate, the organic matter decomposition and gas production rates increased by 2.5% and 4.8%, respectively, compared with before the increased input. The results of this study confirmed that the additional input of food waste leachate into existing biogasification facilities is feasible. When performed in a stable manner, the use of food waste for anaerobic digestion is considered an appropriate alternative treatment method to wet feed. This will lead to technological and industrial development.