폐형광등의 적정 관리를 위한 물질흐름분석

Environmental concerns regarding mercury-containing fluorescent lamps have been raised in many countries, especiallyafter International Minamata Convention on Mercury in 2014. Improper management and disposal of the waste such aslandfilling and incineration may pose serious threats to the environment and human health. In Korea, mercury-containinglamps have been regulated by the expanded producer responsibility (EPR) system since 2004. However, only less than30% of the lamps sold to consumers has been collected by municipalities. In order to provide additional measures relatedto proper management of fluorescent lamps, there is a need for a quantitative material flow study by life cycle stage. Inthis study, material flow analysis was conducted by collecting relevant data from literature review, available statistics,and field site visits to lamp recycling facilities. According to the results of this study, approximately 150 million unitsof fluorescent lamps were put on the market in 2013, while 36.9 million units of the lamps were recycled mainly fromhouseholds in the year. It is estimated that approximately 3.5 million units and 2.3 million units of lamps in disposalbags are disposed and treated in landfills and incineration facilities, respectively. This study also found that there weresignificant amounts of uncollected lamps that were present in industrial sectors. The material flow of the industrial sectorsare largely unknown and not properly regulated by government. Based on the mass flow of mercury in lamps, 1.6ton ofmercury in lamps came into consumer markets in 2013. Approximately 407kg of mercury was collected by the recyclingprocess at the fluorescent lamps recycling facility. The mercury disposed in landfills and treated in incinerators were foundto be 38.3kg and 25.5kg, respectively. Further study may be warranted to focus the material and mercury flow of lampsin industrial sectors in order to accurately determine the final destination and disposal of such waste in the environmentbecause there are very few available statistical data regarding distribution flow and treatment of lamps in the sectors.