Yong-Chul Jang
Chungnam National University, South Korea
Title: Material flow analysis and recycling system of mercury-containing fluorescent lamps in Korea
Biography
Biography: Yong-Chul Jang
Abstract
As fluorescent lampsare frequently replaced at households, large amounts of used or waste mercury-containing fluorescent lamps are generated each year. Improper disposal may pose a serious threat to human health and the environment. Thus, environmentally sound management of used fluorescent lamps is very important. In Korea, used fluorescent lamps have been included in the extended producer responsibility (EPR) policy since 2004 to more effectively recover and recycle them from consumers and reduce their impacts on the environment. This paper examined the material flow analysis (MFA) of fluorescent lamps in Korea to determine the flow of fluorescent lamps and mercury by life cycle stages. The results were based on field site visits tothe used fluorescent lamps recycling facilities, the review of available literature and interviews with the recycling companies and environmental regulatory authorities
