Public opinion about the source separation of municipal solid waste in Shanghai, China

Abstract

For decades the generation of municipal solid waste (MSW) in Shanghai has been increasing. Despite the long-time efforts aimed at MSW management (MSWM), the disposal of MSW achieves poor performance. Thus, a MSW minimisation plan for Shanghai was proposed in December 2010. In this study, direct face-to-face interviews and a structured questionnaire survey were used in four different Shanghai community types. We conducted an econometric analysis of the social factors that influence the willingness to pay for MSW separation and discussed the household waste characteristics, the daily waste generation and the current treatment of kitchen wastes. The results suggested that the respondents are environmentally aware of separation, but only practise minimal separation. Negative neighbour effects, confused classification of MSW, and mixed transportation and disposal are the dominant limitations of MSW source-separated collection. Most respondents are willing to pay for MSWM. Public support is influenced by household population, income and cost. The attitudes and behaviours of citizens are important for reducing the amount of MSW disposal by 50% per capita by 2020 (relative to 2010). Concerted efforts should be taken to enlarge pilot areas. In addition, the source separation of kitchen wastes should be promoted.

The impact of the policy of municipal solid waste source-separated collection on waste reduction: a case study of China

“…2 One possible reason for the ineffectiveness of MSW source-separated collection policy on waste reduction could be insufficient households' awareness and knowledge on proper waste separation. Although respondents are overwhelmingly in favor of MSW source separation, 52 % of residents participated in source separation program in Beijing and the correct source separation rate of residents was only 45.10 % in Shanghai [32,49]. As a voluntary program, MSW source separation is mainly driven by individual habits that value environmental protection.…”

A quantitative analysis of municipal solid waste disposal charges in China

“…Faced with the problems of land scarcity and the Bnot-in-my-back-yard^syndrome (Chung and Carlos 2003;Che et al 2014), the Chinese government now encourages waste minimization at the source, reduction and recycling policy instruments, such as MSW source separation and waste disposal charges (Hsu 2006;Zhuang et al 2008;Zhu et al 2009;Zhang et al 2012). On the basis of the Further Strengthening the Municipal Solid Waste Treatment Directive issued by the State Council during China's 11th Five-Year Plan, MSW disposal charges were imposed in individual provinces from 1994 (Ma and Du 2011), and MSW source separation was implemented early in 2000 in major cities (Tai et al 2011).…”

The Crowding-Out Effects of Garbage Fees and Voluntary Source Separation Programs on Waste Reduction: Evidence from China

“…It is believed that the voluntary participation of individuals into environment programs is driven primarily by their habits that value environmental conservation. However, in Beijing, only 52% of residents, who are overwhelmingly in favor of source separation of MSW, have participated in such programs [63]; the source separation rate is only 45.1% in Shanghai [64], and the separation rate is less than 15% in the other six pilot cities [39]. By contrast, all households in Germany are required to separate their domestic waste into categories of paper, glass, light-packaging, biodegradable, and others [65], and the corresponding recycling rate there rose from about 10% in 1992 to over 40% in 2007 [66].…”