How have waste management policies impacted the flow of municipal waste? An empirical analysis of 14 European countries

Waste management policies aim to divert waste from lower positions on the waste hierarchy such as landfill and incineration to higher positions in the hierarchy such as energy recovery and recycling. However, empirical evaluations of such policies are scarce. This study highlighted the effect of waste management policies on the amount of waste treated with landfill, incineration, energy recovery and recycling by analysing a panel dataset consisting of 14 European countries and the period 1996 to 2018. Findings from a seemingly unrelated regression model suggest that the landfill ban is associated with a decrease in landfill waste, but an increase in incineration, energy recovery and recycling waste. The landfill tax is also correlated with an increase in energy recovery waste but, in contrast, it is associated with a reduction in incineration and recycling waste. Meanwhile, the deposit refund scheme is associated with a decrease in the amount of landfill waste. Concerning the effects on total waste generated, regression results from a fixed effects model indicate that the landfill tax and the deposit refund scheme are both correlated with a reduction in the amount of waste generated. These findings contribute to the scarce academic literature evaluating waste management policies and may better inform policy makers on their longer-term implications.

Automated summary

Waste management policies aim to redirect waste to more sustainable methods such as energy recovery and recycling. This study analyzed data from 14 European countries from 1996 to 2018 and found that landfill bans led to a decrease in landfill waste but an increase in incineration, energy recovery, and recycling waste. The landfill tax was associated with an increase in energy recovery waste but a reduction in incineration and recycling waste. The deposit refund scheme was linked to a decrease in landfill waste. Furthermore, both the landfill tax and the deposit refund scheme were correlated with a reduction in total waste generated. These findings contribute to the limited literature on waste management policies and provide valuable insights for policy makers.