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2026 Vol.35, Issue 2 Preview Page

Research Paper

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)-Based Greenhouse Gas Emission Estimation for Different Medical Waste Treatment Scenarios in Korea

국내 의료폐기물 처리 시나리오별 전과정평가(LCA) 기반 온실가스 배출량 산정

Jae-Seung Kim1
,
Hong-Yoon Kang1*
,
Cheol-Sun Lim1
,
Yong-Woo Hwang2
,
Jin-Woo Kim3
김 재승1
,
강 홍윤1*
,
임 철순1
,
황 용우2
,
김 진우3
1Program in Circular Economy Environmental System, Inha University
2Department of Environmental Engineering, Inha University
3BioDeck Co., Ltd.
1인하대학교 순환경제환경시스템전공
2인하대학교 환경공학과
3㈜바이오덱
*Corresponding Author
30 April 2026. pp. 42-53
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Abstract

This study aims to compare and analyze greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with various medical waste treatment methods, outsourced incineration and on-site treatment—by establishing three distinct scenarios in the context of increasing medical waste generation driven by Korea’s transition into an aging society. As of 2024, approximately 97% of the medical waste generated in Seoul will be outsourced to specialized incineration facilities located in other regions, with transport distances ranging from 60 to 300 km. By contrast, on-site treatment involves the sterilization and shredding of medical waste using equipment installed in general hospitals, followed by incineration at municipal solid waste incineration facilities and ultimately landfilling of the resulting residues. The baseline scenario assumes that 100% of the medical waste is treated through outsourced incineration. Scenario 1 assumes 100% on-site treatment, whereas Scenario 2 assumes a combination of 70% on-site treatment and 30% recycling of low-risk infectious, recyclable plastic waste. Using a life cycle assessment approach, this study quantified GHG emissions for each scenario to provide fundamental data for improving medical waste management strategies in Korea.

Keywords
Medical waste
Off-stie
On-site
Recycling
LCA

본 연구는 고령사회로의 전환에 따라 의료폐기물 발생량이 지속적으로 증가하는 상황을 배경으로, 위탁 소각 처리와 자가 처리방식이라는 서로 다른 의료폐기물 처리 방법에 따른 온실가스(GHG) 배출량을 비교·분석하기 위해 세 가지 처리 시나리오를 설정하였다. 2024년 기준 서울에서 발생하는 의료폐기물의 약 97%는 타 지역에 위치한 전용 소각시설로 위탁 처리되고 있으며, 이 과정에서 수송 거리는 약 60~300 km에 이른다. 반면, 자가 처리방식은 종합병원에 설치된 멸균·분쇄 장비를 이용하여 의료폐기물을 처리한 후, 잔재물을 생활폐기물 소각시설에서 소각하고 최종적으로 매립하는 구조를 가진다. 베이스라인 시나리오는 의료폐기물의 100%를 위탁소각 처리하는 경우를 가정하였으며, 시나리오 1은 100% 자가 처리를, 시나리오 2는 자가 처리 70%와 저감염성 재활용 가능 플라스틱 폐기물의 재활용 30%를 병행하는 경우를 가정하였다. 본 연구는 전과정평가(Life Cycle Assessment, LCA) 기법을 적용하여 시나리오별 온실가스 배출량을 정량적으로 산정함으로써, 국내 의료폐기물 관리체계 개선을 위한 기초 자료 제공을 목적으로 한다.

키워드
의료폐기물
위탁처리
자가 처리
재활용
LCA
References
1

Statistics Korea, 2025 : KOSIS (Korean Statistical Information Service), https://kosis.kr/statHtml, April 15, 2025.

2

Oh, I.-J., 2022 : A study on improvement measures for the management and treatment system of medical waste, Master’s thesis, Department of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Graduate School of Convergence Science, Seoul National University of Science and Technology, Seoul, Republic of Korea, pp.4-6.

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Ministry of Environment, 2023 : Guidelines for the Safe Management and Treatment of Medical Waste, Waste Resources Management Division, Ministry of Environment, Republic of Korea.

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Information
  • Publisher :The Korean Institute of Resources Recycling
  • Publisher(Ko) :한국자원리싸이클링학회
  • Journal Title :Resources Recycling
  • Journal Title(Ko) :자원리싸이클링
  • Volume : 35
  • No :2
  • Pages :42-53
  • Received Date : 2025-06-02
  • Revised Date : 2026-03-21
  • Accepted Date : 2026-03-25
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.7844/kirr.2026.35.2.42
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