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Diversion, but at what cost? The economic challenges of recycling in Ontario

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  • Lakhan, Calvin

Abstract

This study examines how changing the mix of materials accepted in Ontario's residential recycling program (Blue Box) affects provincial material management costs and recycling rates. Specifically, this study quantifies the impact of “non-core” material recycling on system costs and diversion levels (where non-core materials are defined as materials with high material management costs and low levels of recyclability). Using a systems based cost model, focus is placed on analyzing: (1) how has the generation of “non-core” materials changed in the past decade? (2) What would happen to provincial recycling costs and diversion levels if non-core materials were removed from the Blue Box program? (3) Is it possible to achieve the provinces’ 70% recycling target if non-core materials were no longer being collected? The results of this analysis show that removing non-core materials from the Blue Box program significantly decreased system costs without negatively impacting overall recycling rates. This study also found that it was possible to increase the provincial recycling rate while simultaneously reducing program costs by targeting specific materials for recovery. The findings of this study suggest that Ontario reevaluate the types of material included in the residential Blue Box program.

Suggested Citation

  • Lakhan, Calvin, 2015. "Diversion, but at what cost? The economic challenges of recycling in Ontario," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 133-142.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:recore:v:95:y:2015:i:c:p:133-142
    DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2014.12.007
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Don Fullerton & Thomas C. Kinnaman, 2002. "Garbage, Recycling, and Illicit Burning or Dumping," Chapters, in: Don Fullerton & Thomas C. Kinnaman (ed.), The Economics of Household Garbage and Recycling Behavior, chapter 2, pages 49-62, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    2. Lakhan, Calvin, 2014. "Exploring the relationship between municipal promotion and education investments and recycling rate performance in Ontario, Canada," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 222-229.
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    5. Bohm, Robert A. & Folz, David H. & Kinnaman, Thomas C. & Podolsky, Michael J., 2010. "The costs of municipal waste and recycling programs," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 54(11), pages 864-871.
    6. Marie Lynn Miranda & Jess W. Everett & Daniel Blume & Barbeau A. Roy, 1994. "Market-based incentives and residential municipal solid waste," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 13(4), pages 681-698.
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    Cited by:

    1. Malak Anshassi & Timothy G. Townsend, 2023. "The hidden economic and environmental costs of eliminating kerb-side recycling," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 6(8), pages 919-928, August.
    2. Carly Jacobs & Katie Soulliere & Susan Sawyer-Beaulieu & Abir Sabzwari & Edwin Tam, 2022. "Challenges to the Circular Economy: Recovering Wastes from Simple versus Complex Products," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-17, February.

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