An EU Recycling Target: What Does the Dutch Evidence Tell Us?

Abstract

The European Union (EU) advocates a household waste recycling rate of more than 65 %. Although the Netherlands has already invested heavily in recycling policies, this is still a big challenge as nowadays this rate is approximately 50 % on average and very few no municipalities have a rate above 65 %. Given this practice, it is possible to learn from the Dutch experience which policies are effective in increasing recycling rates. Based on a large panel data set for the Netherlands, we show that unit-based pricing, avoiding a duo-bin for unsorted and compostable waste, and reducing the frequency of collecting unsorted and compostable waste at the curbside are effective in raising the recycling rate. However, only a bag-based pricing system has a substantial effect, but this policy can have some adverse effects. Other unit-based pricing systems have effects of less than 10 % points. In nearly all cases, changing the frequency of collection of recyclables has no or very small effects. Moreover, the complementarity between unit-based pricing and curbside service is low. Overall, it seems very difficult to reach the EU goal of 65 % with the policies applied.

Is Taxing Waste a Waste of Time? Evidence from a Supreme Court Decision

“…As noted by Bel and Gradus (2016), such a difference is likely to exist mainly when volume pricing is represented by containers, as in Fullerton and Kinnaman (1996), instead of smaller units such as bags, as in this case. Considering for instance the case of The Netherlands, no difference between weight and bag pricing is found in Dijkgraaf and Gradus (2004) and Dijkgraaf and Gradus (2009), while some divergence is documented in Dijkgraaf and Gradus (2015), favourable to weight programs, and Dijkgraaf and Gradus (2016), favourable to bag programs.…”

“…In some cases, ambitious recycling targets have been set. The European Union, for instance, would like its households to recycle 65% or more of their garbage, on average a 15% increase compared to current levels (Dijkgraaf and Gradus, 2016). Similarly, in Switzerland household waste recycling targets at the Cantonal level can be at 60% or more.…”

Dutch Municipalities are Becoming Greener: Some Political and Institutional Explanations

“…Second, it is important to collect more detailed information on other environmental decisions as well. Dijkgraaf and Gradus (2017) show an increasing number of municipalities with curbside collecting of recyclables and special type of containers. In some municipalities, curbside collection of recyclables has expanded and households have to bring unsorted waste to pick-up points.…”

Risk Assessment in a Materials Recycling Facility: Perspectives for Reducing Operational Issues

“…The recovery of the recyclable material, in particular packaging waste, has been highlighted also within the last circular economy package published in 2018 [1][2][3]. Thus, the implementation of integrated systems for improving the recycling rate in MSW and packaging waste increased of importance for the countries forming part the European Union (EU) [4][5][6][7]. North of Italy is one of the regions that achieved the highest recycling rate in Europe.…”