This summer, heavy rainfall has continued across the country, highlighting the need for dredging to prevent river flooding and maintain the functionality of reservoirs and dams. Dredging is an essential public project for flood prevention and water resource management. However, the soil left over after dredging remains largely overlooked.
The government has recently prioritized the circular economy as a key national policy, aiming to expand the use of recycled materials and strengthen resource circulation in the public sector. Yet, the figures released by the Ministry of Environment are sobering. As of 2020, the total waste generated nationwide was 190 million tons, of which only 1.69 million tons, or 0.8%, was officially recognized as recycled resources. Dredged soil has also failed to pass through this narrow gate, with most being treated as waste.
Large-scale dredging occurs annually in national and local rivers, reservoirs, dams, and ports. The dredged sediment generated is estimated to reach tens of millions of cubic meters each year. However, a significant portion is treated as waste or sent to dredged soil dumping sites due to unclear utilization standards. While there is a considerable amount of dredged soil that could be utilized, the supporting systems and standards are still insufficient. Current laws, including the River Act, the Rural Community Maintenance Act, and the Port Act, regulate dredging projects, while the Waste Management Act and the Soil Environment Conservation Act serve their respective roles. However, the criteria for evaluating the soil generated during dredging and when it can be utilized as a resource remain unclear. The same dredged soil may be used as fill material in some cases while being treated as waste in others, depending on the project purpose or applicable laws. This results in a structure where the treatment method varies based on administrative standards rather than the quality or potential use of the dredged soil.
As a result, project operators find it difficult to predict the potential for utilization, and administrative agencies struggle to apply consistent standards. Usable dredged soil is often treated as waste. Considering industry processing costs, estimates suggest that even converting half of the dredged sediment generated annually into recycled resources could save the country billions of dollars in processing costs. While promoting a circular economy, usable resources are wasted due to institutional gaps, leaving the associated costs as a social burden.
In contrast, other countries have adopted different approaches. The European Union operates an 'End of Waste' system under Article 6 of the Waste Framework Directive (Directive 2008/98/EC), which allows for the removal of waste status for materials that meet market demand, have legal uses, and do not negatively impact the environment or health. By clearly defining the boundary between waste and resources in legislation, businesses can better predict recyclability, and administrative agencies can apply consistent standards.
Signs of change are emerging in South Korea as well. In the marine sector, dredged materials that meet certain criteria are being used for beach nourishment and coastal restoration. This demonstrates that even the same soil can be effectively utilized as a resource if quality and safety are ensured. However, these systems are currently limited to the marine sector and do not encompass dredged soil generated from rivers, reservoirs, and dams. With climate change increasing the importance of river management and flood prevention, dredging will continue to be necessary. Therefore, the focus of discussions should shift from where to dispose of dredged soil to how to utilize it safely and economically.
To utilize dredged soil as a resource, consistent management standards must be established. Quality assessment criteria reflecting contamination levels and physical properties should be developed, and systems should be organized to allow dredged soil meeting certain standards to be used as recycled materials. The management standards scattered across individual laws also need to be organically linked. This will help reduce confusion in the field and save wasted budgets.
The circular economy is not merely a policy for recycling waste. It is a societal system for safely reusing materials that can become resources. Dredged soil should not be an exception. It is time to establish clear criteria on whether to view dredged soil as waste or to utilize it as a circular resource. This will serve as a starting point for advancing the circular economy.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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