IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/jbecon/v87y2017i1d10.1007_s11573-015-0774-4.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Quality splitting in waste incineration due to non-convex production possibilities

Author

Listed:
  • Mark Müser

    (RWTH Aachen University)

  • Harald Dyckhoff

    (RWTH Aachen University)

Abstract

Using a real case study of waste incineration, we show a new form of non-convexity in the transformation process of the inputs into the outputs. Its consequence is quality splitting, i.e. the separate use of different input qualities, yielding a better result than a homogeneous mix. For waste incineration plants (WIP), this leads to surprising practical implications for strategies of waste collection and supply, as well as for the control of a WIP. The insights are based on the evaluation of a basic model of waste incineration developed for the case study. Thus, the paper also contributes to production research by modelling waste incineration as a central process for the “reduction” of waste from manufacturing and consumption.

Suggested Citation

  • Mark Müser & Harald Dyckhoff, 2017. "Quality splitting in waste incineration due to non-convex production possibilities," Journal of Business Economics, Springer, vol. 87(1), pages 73-96, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jbecon:v:87:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1007_s11573-015-0774-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s11573-015-0774-4
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11573-015-0774-4
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s11573-015-0774-4?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. S Blancard & J-P Boussemart & H Leleu, 2011. "Measuring potential gains from specialization under non-convex technologies," Journal of the Operational Research Society, Palgrave Macmillan;The OR Society, vol. 62(10), pages 1871-1880, October.
    2. N. Hung & C. Le Van & P. Michel, 2009. "Non-convex aggregate technology and optimal economic growth," Economic Theory, Springer;Society for the Advancement of Economic Theory (SAET), vol. 40(3), pages 457-471, September.
    3. Jean-Paul Chavas & Walter Briec, 2012. "On economic efficiency under non-convexity," Economic Theory, Springer;Society for the Advancement of Economic Theory (SAET), vol. 50(3), pages 671-701, August.
    4. Herbert E. Scarf, 2008. "Production Sets with Indivisibilities Part I: Generalities," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: Zaifu Yang (ed.), Herbert Scarf’s Contributions to Economics, Game Theory and Operations Research, chapter 2, pages 7-38, Palgrave Macmillan.
    5. Kohn, Robert E & Aucamp, Donald C, 1976. "Abatement, Avoidance, and Nonconvexity," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 66(5), pages 947-952, December.
    6. M. J. Farrell, 1959. "The Convexity Assumption in the Theory of Competitive Markets," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 67(4), pages 377-377.
    7. repec:bla:econom:v:39:y:1972:i:154:p:160-76 is not listed on IDEAS
    8. repec:bla:econom:v:51:y:1984:i:204:p:401-11 is not listed on IDEAS
    9. Hollis B. Chenery, 1949. "Engineering Production Functions," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 63(4), pages 507-531.
    10. Penkuhn, T. & Spengler, Th. & Puchert, H. & Rentz, O., 1997. "Environmental integrated production planning for the ammonia synthesis," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 97(2), pages 327-336, March.
    11. Herbert E. Scarf, 2008. "Production Sets with Indivisibilities Part II. The Case of Two Activities," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: Zaifu Yang (ed.), Herbert Scarf’s Contributions to Economics, Game Theory and Operations Research, chapter 3, pages 39-67, Palgrave Macmillan.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Harald Dyckhoff, 2018. "Multi-criteria production theory: foundation of non-financial and sustainability performance evaluation," Journal of Business Economics, Springer, vol. 88(7), pages 851-882, September.
    2. Victoria Wojcik & Harald Dyckhoff & Sebastian Gutgesell, 2017. "The desirable input of undesirable factors in data envelopment analysis," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 259(1), pages 461-484, December.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Kumaraswamy Velupillai, 2003. "Economics and the complexity vision: chimerical partners or elysian adventurers," Department of Economics Working Papers 0307, Department of Economics, University of Trento, Italia.
    2. Rabia Nessah & Kristiaan Kerstens, 2008. "Characterizations of the Existence of Nash Equilibria with Non-convex Strategy Sets," Working Papers 2008-ECO-13, IESEG School of Management.
    3. Tone, Kaoru & Sahoo, Biresh K., 2003. "Scale, indivisibilities and production function in data envelopment analysis," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 84(2), pages 165-192, May.
    4. I. Bárány & H. E. Scarf & D. Shallcross, 2008. "The topological structure of maximal lattice free convex bodies: The general case," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: Zaifu Yang (ed.), Herbert Scarf’s Contributions to Economics, Game Theory and Operations Research, chapter 11, pages 191-205, Palgrave Macmillan.
    5. Gerard van der Laan & Dolf Talman & Zaifu Yang, 2004. "Solving Discrete Zero Point Problems," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 04-112/1, Tinbergen Institute.
    6. Kala Krishna & Cemile Yavas, 2004. "Lumpy consumer durables, market power, and endogenous business cycles," Canadian Journal of Economics, Canadian Economics Association, vol. 37(2), pages 375-391, May.
    7. Alberto Del Pia & Robert Hildebrand & Robert Weismantel & Kevin Zemmer, 2016. "Minimizing Cubic and Homogeneous Polynomials over Integers in the Plane," Mathematics of Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 41(2), pages 511-530, May.
    8. Cesaroni, Giovanni & Kerstens, Kristiaan & Van de Woestyne, Ignace, 2017. "Global and local scale characteristics in convex and nonconvex nonparametric technologies: A first empirical exploration," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 259(2), pages 576-586.
    9. Truchon, Michel, 1988. "Programmation mathématique et théorie économique," L'Actualité Economique, Société Canadienne de Science Economique, vol. 64(2), pages 143-156, juin.
    10. Yang, Z.F., 1994. "A simplicial algorithm for testing the integral properties of polytopes : A revision," Other publications TiSEM 72b67872-ca37-4bb5-8a13-7, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    11. Walter Briec & Kristiaan Kerstens, 2006. "Input, output and graph technical efficiency measures on non-convex FDH models with various scaling laws: An integrated approach based upon implicit enumeration algorithms," TOP: An Official Journal of the Spanish Society of Statistics and Operations Research, Springer;Sociedad de Estadística e Investigación Operativa, vol. 14(1), pages 135-166, June.
    12. Yang, Z.F., 1994. "A simplicial algorithm for testing the integral property of a polytope," Discussion Paper 1994-75, Tilburg University, Center for Economic Research.
    13. van der Laan, G. & Talman, A.J.J. & Yang, Z.F., 1999. "Existence and Welfare Properties of Equilibrium in an Exchange Economy with Multiple Divisible, Indivisible Commodities and Linear Production Technologies," Other publications TiSEM e7e05539-3fab-4998-818d-0, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    14. Koshevoy, Gleb A. & Talman, Dolf, 2006. "Competitive equilibria in economies with multiple indivisible and multiple divisible commodities," Journal of Mathematical Economics, Elsevier, vol. 42(2), pages 216-226, April.
    15. Bruno Coquet & Jacques Le Cacheux, 1996. "Les privatisations dans la perspective de l'intégration européenne," Revue Économique, Programme National Persée, vol. 47(6), pages 1333-1350.
    16. Jensen Christian, 2014. "Replication and Returns to Scale in Production," The B.E. Journal of Theoretical Economics, De Gruyter, vol. 14(1), pages 127-148, February.
    17. Bennett Levitan & Jose Lobo & Stuart Kauffman & Richard Schuler, 1999. "Optimal Organization Size in a Stochastic Environment with Externalities," Working Papers 99-04-024, Santa Fe Institute.
    18. Koshevoy, G.A. & Talman, A.J.J., 2006. "Competitive Equilibria in Economies with Multiple Divisible and Indivisible Commodities and No Money," Other publications TiSEM 130306fe-6e3c-499c-b776-c, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    19. Blancard, Stéphane & Boussemart, Jean-Philippe & Chavas, Jean-Paul & Leleu, Hervé, 2016. "Potential gains from specialization and diversification further to the reorganization of activities," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 60-68.
    20. van der Laan, G. & Talman, A.J.J. & Yang, Z.F., 2002. "Existence and welfare properties of equilibrium in an exchange economy with multiple divisible and indivisible commodities and linear production," Other publications TiSEM 5a5610bf-4f85-4a25-963c-c, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Non-convex production possibilities; Quality splitting; Bad input; Waste incineration; Flue gas denitrification;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q53 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; Recycling
    • M20 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Economics - - - General
    • D2 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:jbecon:v:87:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1007_s11573-015-0774-4. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.