육상폐기물 해양투기의 문제점과 개선방안

The Problem of Ocean-dumping of Land-based Wastes in Korea

Chae, Young Geun


Korea has allowed ocean-dumping of land-based wastes since 1977. The overall amount of wastes dumped into the ocean nearby Korean peninsula is more than 100 million tons. The wastes were mostly organic wastes from food factories, sewage disposal plants, excrements from livestock farms, and food garbage re-treatment plants. The amount of wastes for ocean dumping has increased rapidly recently. The reason for this sharp increase was the changes of waste treatment policy by the Ministry of Environment. Marine environment is taken care of by the Ministry of Land and Maritime on the other hand. The Ministry of Environment changed laws prohibiting landfill of food wastes and sewage sludge. Sanitary landfill has no problem with leakage of waste water but the Ministry was concerned about civic complaint and opposition over the dumping of organic wastes because of foul smell and unsanitary condition nearby. In addition, the ministry allowed livestock farms to avoid building their own treatment plants for excrements if they could send those to the ocean. These legal changed affected the sudden increase of ocean-dumping of organic wastes. The ocean-dumping is causing serious pollution of the seabed ultimately endangering marine ecosystem. Already some marine creatures caught by fishermen appeared contaminated with those waste materials. The pollutant includes heavy metals as well such as cadmium and lead. The ocean-dumping of land-based wastes may not only cause health problem of the people but also international dispute.
To reverse this tragic trend, we should reestablish the principle that any wastes should taken care of where they were created. Wastes generated inland should be treated and disposed inland. The myopic concern of the Ministry of Environment is showing a good example of government failure of pursuing their narrow interest rather than the national interest as a whole. We should rethink about the disposal of those organic wastes into the sanitary landfill. We should also reform the Marine Environment Management Act and make more difficult to give permit for ocean-dumping of any wastes.