SKGC, Hwaseong City, and Superbin Sign Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to Establish Resource Circulation Infrastructure
[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Yoon-joo] SK Geocentric is launching activities to make waste separation easier so that discarded waste can be recycled into clean resources, in collaboration with local governments and venture companies.
On the 18th, SK Geocentric signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Hwaseong City in Gyeonggi Province and the eco-friendly social venture company Superbin to establish a plastic circulation system. According to this agreement, the three parties will build eco-friendly collection stations mainly in general residential complexes and detached houses where the separation of waste such as plastic and cans is relatively insufficient.
Hwaseong City, which is promoting the Hwaseong-type Green New Deal, will support the permits and administrative systems necessary for the construction of eco-friendly collection stations.
Superbin will be responsible for the production and operation of the robot ‘Nephron’ applied to the collection stations. Nephron is an eco-friendly robot capable of automatically sorting PET bottles, cans, and more. This robot is equipped with AI algorithms that can distinguish contaminated waste or waste that is difficult to recycle. When users deposit recyclable waste into ‘Nephron,’ they can accumulate points redeemable for cash, which is expected to increase participation rates.
SK Geocentric will conduct research and development to chemically and physically recycle waste plastics that resource recovery robots cannot collect. SK Geocentric is striving to establish a plastic circulation system by securing three major chemical recycling technologies that are gaining attention as new technologies for recycling waste plastics: pyrolysis, depolymerization, and extraction of high-purity polypropylene.
Kang Dong-hoon, Vice President of SK Geocentric, said, "We will take the lead in building a plastic circular economy by researching and developing various ways to reduce the amount of waste plastics that are landfilled or incinerated."
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