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The regional heterogeneity of household recycling: a spatial-econometric analysis of Swedish plastic packing waste

Author

Listed:
  • Olle Hage

    (Luleå University of Technology)

  • Krister Sandberg

    (Transport Analysis)

  • Patrik Söderholm

    (Luleå University of Technology)

  • Christer Berglund

    (Vattenfall Distribution AB)

Abstract

Environmental policy is often formulated at the national level, but the primary responsibilities for policy implementation, monitoring and compliance are often assigned to local actors (e.g., municipalities). This paper investigates the regional heterogeneity of household plastic waste collection among Swedish municipalities, and how collection rates have been influenced by local waste management policies, geographical conditions and socio-economic characteristics. This is achieved by employing spatial econometric methods and cross-sectional data for 282 Swedish municipalities. The results confirm the presence of spatial correlation. Furthermore, municipalities that employ weight-based waste management fees generally experience higher collection rates. The presence of curbside recycling and a high intensity of recycling drop-off stations, i.e., policy measures that help improve the infrastructural conditions for household recycling, also help explain why some municipalities perform better than others. However, the correlations between packaging waste collection and a number of important regional cost variables, such as the distance to the recycling industry, urbanization rate and population density, turn out both statistically and economically insignificant. An important explanation for this could be that the Swedish producer responsibility scheme has offered regionally differentiated (and fixed) monetary compensations to local collection entrepreneurs, and these have typically been higher in high-cost regions. This implies that plastic packaging waste collection in Sweden has been performed in a spatially cost-ineffective manner.

Suggested Citation

  • Olle Hage & Krister Sandberg & Patrik Söderholm & Christer Berglund, 2018. "The regional heterogeneity of household recycling: a spatial-econometric analysis of Swedish plastic packing waste," Letters in Spatial and Resource Sciences, Springer, vol. 11(3), pages 245-267, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:lsprsc:v:11:y:2018:i:3:d:10.1007_s12076-017-0200-3
    DOI: 10.1007/s12076-017-0200-3
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    Cited by:

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    3. Cerqueira, Pedro A. & Soukiazis, Elias, 2022. "Socio-economic and political factors affecting the rate of recycling in Portuguese municipalities," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    4. Romano, Giulia & Molinos-Senante, María & Carosi, Laura & Llanquileo-Melgarejo, Paula & Sala-Garrido, Ramón & Mocholi-Arce, Manuel, 2021. "Assessing the dynamic eco-efficiency of Italian municipalities by accounting for the ownership of the entrusted waste utilities," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    5. Liangjun Peng & Mengdi Gu & Zhijun Peng, 2020. "Study on the Optimized Mode of Waste Governance with Sustainable Urban Development—Case from China’s Urban Waste Classified Collection," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-12, May.
    6. Kristyna Rybova, 2019. "Do Sociodemographic Characteristics in Waste Management Matter? Case Study of Recyclable Generation in the Czech Republic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-15, April.
    7. Liange Zhao & Jianfeng Zou & Zhijian Zhang, 2020. "Does China’s Municipal Solid Waste Source Separation Program Work? Evidence from the Spatial-Two-Stage-Least Squares Models," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-20, February.
    8. Elena Borasino & Hanna Fuhrmann-Riebel, 2022. "New Kids on the Recycling Block: the Role of Supermarkets and Bodegas for Sustainable Consumer Behaviour in Lima," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 2(3), pages 857-881, September.
    9. Coralie Hellwig & Greta Häggblom-Kronlöf & Kim Bolton & Kamran Rousta, 2019. "Household Waste Sorting and Engagement in Everyday Life Occupations After Migration—A Scoping Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(17), pages 1-29, August.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Household recycling; Regional heterogeneity; Plastic packaging waste; Waste management; Cost effectiveness; Spatial econometrics;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C21 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Cross-Sectional Models; Spatial Models; Treatment Effect Models
    • Q58 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Government Policy
    • R11 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Regional Economic Activity: Growth, Development, Environmental Issues, and Changes

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