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The Determinants of Household Recycling: A Material Specific Analysis of Unit Pricing and Recycling Program Attributes

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  • Palmer, Karen

    (Resources for the Future)

  • Martinez, Salvador
  • Jenkins, Robin
  • Podolsky, Michael

Abstract

This paper examines the impact of two popular solid waste programs on the percent recycled of several different materials found in the residential solid waste stream. We examine a unique, national, household-level data set containing information on the percent recycled of five different materials: glass bottles, plastic bottles, aluminum, newspaper, and yard waste. We find that access to curbside recycling has a significant and substantial positive effect on the percentage recycled of all five materials and that the level of this effect varies across different materials. The length of the recycling program’s life has a significant and positive effect on two of the five materials and a mandatory recycling requirement does not affect any materials. The level of the unit price has an insignificant effect on all five materials.

Suggested Citation

  • Palmer, Karen & Martinez, Salvador & Jenkins, Robin & Podolsky, Michael, 1999. "The Determinants of Household Recycling: A Material Specific Analysis of Unit Pricing and Recycling Program Attributes," RFF Working Paper Series dp-99-41-rev, Resources for the Future.
    • Handle: RePEc:rff:dpaper:dp-99-41-rev
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    File URL: http://www.rff.org/RFF/documents/RFF-DP-98-41-REV.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Calcott, Paul & Walls, Margaret, 2005. "Waste, recycling, and "Design for Environment": Roles for markets and policy instruments," Resource and Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 27(4), pages 287-305, November.
    2. Calcott, Paul & Walls, Margaret, 2000. "Policies to Encourage Recycling and "Design for Environment": What to Do When Markets Are Missing," Discussion Papers 10567, Resources for the Future.
    3. Don Fullerton & Andrew Leicester & Stephen Smith, 2008. "Environmental Taxes," NBER Working Papers 14197, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    4. van Beukering, Pieter J.H. & van den Bergh, Jeroen C.J.M., 2006. "Modelling and analysis of international recycling between developed and developing countries," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 46(1), pages 1-26.
    5. van Beukering, Pieter J. H. & Bouman, Mathijs N., 2001. "Empirical Evidence on Recycling and Trade of Paper and Lead in Developed and Developing Countries," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 29(10), pages 1717-1737, October.
    6. Hervani, Aref A., 2005. "Can oligopsony power be measured? The case of U.S. old newspapers market," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 44(4), pages 343-380.

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