환경기초시설 지하화 현황과 사회적 투자수익률 분석: 소각시설을 중심으로

In Korea, the underground development of environmental infrastructure—public systems that provide water supply, waste disposal, or pollution control—is a concept that is currently promoted among municipalities. However, the lack of a comprehensive method to assess feasibility hampers the efficacy evaluation of underground infrastructure. For this study, we turn to social return on investment (SROI) analysis, a methodology that measures social, environmental, and economic value. SROI is a widely-used and important tool to evaluate the social and ecological impact of these projects. This study analyzes undergrounding projects through the use of stakeholder interviews and literature research in order to assess the implementation of these projects. SROI analysis is used to evaluate the feasibility of installing underground infrastructure in various scenarios. The analysis reveals that the primary objectives of underground infrastructure, such as optimization of land use and community acceptance, are validated in approximately 65% of the cases. Additionally, the study observes that small-scale recycling and food-waste facilities are installed underground in metropolitan regions, while large-scale sewage treatment and incineration facilities are underground in non-metropolitan regions. In conducting the SROI analysis, a net SROI ratio of 0.66 is used to calculate the proposed expansion of an existing incineration facility. As a result, the cost is deemed efficient enough that a new underground incineration facility could be proposed, with a maximum construction cost estimated at 99,963 million KRW. The study calculates construction costs based on standard capacities, and presents a regression equation that shows a relation of installation capacities to underground construction expenses. This provides valuable insights for decisions to transition to underground infrastructure. The research methodology and findings of this study can apply to future environmental infrastructure projects, whether new installations or renovations, to assess the feasibility of implementation.