Economic Instruments and Waste Minimization: The Need for Discard-Relevant and Purchase-Relevant Instruments

Abstract

In this paper we provide a conceptual framework for categorizing economic instruments relevant to waste minimization. Instruments are categorized as purchase-relevant, discard-relevant, or jointly-relevant. It is argued that a mix of instruments from the above categories will increase the ability of a waste-minimization programme to achieve high waste-reduction targets without imposing excessive cost on the economy. The exact mix will depend on the elements included in the strategy and the focal points for behavioural change. It is likely that the effective participation of householders could be increased by discard-relevant or jointly-relevant instruments such as residential waste-collection fees or potentially refundable product levies. We anticipate that brand owners will call for the implementation of such instruments to help in meeting their packaging-recovery responsibilities.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Apotheker

, 1992, “Recycling in Canada's big cities” Resource Recycling 11 (12) 37–42

Bohm

, 1981 Deposit Refund Systems: The Theory and Applications to Environmental Conservation, and Consumer Policy (Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, MD)

Brisson

, 1993, “Packaging waste and the environment: Economics and policy” Resource Conservation and Recycling 8 183–292

Coopers and Lybrand, 1993 Landfill Costs and Prices: Correcting Possible Market Distortions (HMSO, London)

CSERGE, Warren Spring Laboratory, EFTEL, 1993 Externalities from Landfill and Incineration (HMSO, London)

DoE, 1990 This Common Inheritance: Britain's Environmental Strategy Cm 1200, Department of the Environment (HMSO, London)

DoE, 1992 This Common Inheritance: The Second Year Report Cm 2068, Department of the Environment (HMSO, London)

DoE, 1993, “DOE & DTI challenge the packaging industry” Environment News Release Department of the Environment, London, 27 July

ERL, 1991 Deposit Refund Schemes for Beverage Containers and Batteries Environmental Resources Ltd (HMSO, London)

10.

ERL, 1992 Economic Instruments and Recovery of Resources from Waste Environmental Resources Ltd (HMSO, London)

11.

ERRA, 1994, “Reference on multi-material recovery: Critical factors”, European Recovery and Recycling Association, Avenue E Mounter 83, Box 14, Brussels 1200, Belgium

12.

European Community, 1975 Official Journal L194, 25 July

13.

European Union, 1994 Common Position of the Council of the European Union on Directive on Packaging and Packaging Waste 4 March

14.

Hong

Adams

Love

, 1993, “An economic analysis of household recycling of solid wastes: The case of Portland Oregon” Journal of Environmental Economics and Management 25 136–146

15.

House of Lords, Select Committee on the European Communities, 1993 Packaging and Packaging Waste Session 1992–93, 26th Report (HMSO, London)

16.

Jacobs

, 1994, “Economic instruments: Dispelling the myths” Waste Planning 11 10–12

17.

Jenkins

, 1993 The Economics of Solid Waste Reduction (Edward Elgar, Aldershot, Hants)

18.

Miedema

, 1985, “Projected effects of a product disposal charge”, paper presented to a Conference on Materials Recycling and Composting, New York Legislative Commission on Solid Waste Management, Albany, NY

19.

OECD, 1978 Beverage Containers (OECD, Paris)

20.

Ontario Waste Reduction Advisory Committee, 1992, “Resource stewardship in Ontario: A shared responsibility”, Ontario Waste Reduction Advisory Committee, c/o Ontario Ministry of Environment and Energy, 135 St Cair Avenue West, Toronto, Ontario M4V 1P5

21.

Pearce

Turner

, 1993, “Market-based approaches to solid waste management” Resources Conservation and Recycling 8 63–90

22.

Pezzey

, 1988, “Market mechanisms for pollution control: ‘polluter pays’, economic and practical aspects”, in Sustainable Environmental Management: Principles and Practices Ed. Turner

, (Belhaven Press, London) pp 190–242

23.

Porter

, 1978, “Beverage container deposits” Journal of Environmental Economics and Management 5 351–375

24.

Producer Responsibility Industry Group, 1994, “Real value from packaging waste: A way forward-a report for public consultation” (Producer Responsibility Industry Group, London)

25.

RCEP, 1993 Incineration of Waste, 17th Report Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution (HMSO, London)

26.

Skumatz

Zach

, 1992, “Variable rate initiatives at the state level” BioCycle 33 (12) 67–69

27.

Touche Ross Management Consultants, 1991 Waste Recycling Credits-Systems and Mechanisms Report (HMSO, London)

28.

Williamson

, 1993, “Reduction strategy weight-based MSW collection” BioCycle 34(3) 76