Evaluation of material and environmental price through material recycling of waste collected at the University of Seoul

Abstract

In this study, we evaluated the material and environmental benefits of recycling materials collected at the University of Seoul. The waste composition was analyzed by sampling using the coning and quartering methods at the campus recycling center. The material cost was determined by comparing the prices of raw materials and recycled materials, while the environmental cost was calculated by estimating potential greenhouse gas emissions by incineration and multiplying this by the carbon price. It was analyzed that recycling rather than incineration can reduce greenhouse gas emissions up to 2.8 tCO₂eq per tonne of waste. As a result, approximately 250 t of household waste is generated annually at the University of Seoul, with approximately 16% consisting of recyclable materials such as plastic and paper. Based on the carbon price of the Republic of Korea, the potential savings were around 608,000 USD/year. Using the current EU carbon price, the savings increased to 647,000 USD/year, and based on the 2030 target carbon price, the savings amounted to 677,000 USD/year. It represents that recycling not only minimizes natural resource depletion but also mitigates greenhouse gas emissions and results in significant economic cost savings. This research investigates specific methods for calculating monetary values to incentivize recycling and presents practical applications.