Promotion of Household Waste Utilization in China: Lessons Learnt from Three Case Studies

Yanran Liu, Tingting Tian, Xinyu Hao, Qin Zhang, Chengyan Yao and Guangfu Liu
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Yanran Liu: School of Economics and Management, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
Tingting Tian: Institute of Textiles and Clothing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong 999077, China
Xinyu Hao: School of Economics and Management, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
Qin Zhang: School of Economics and Management, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
Chengyan Yao: School of Economics and Management, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
Guangfu Liu: School of Economics and Management, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 21, 1-14

Abstract: Household waste utilization has been regarded as an important pathway to promote the circular economy paradigm and sustainable development for a long time. However, relevant enterprises are facing dilemmas in terms of the backward disposal methods for food waste, inadequate recycling of low-value recyclable waste and the lack of leading enterprises, resulting in unsustainable expansion of the industry. To address these problems, we investigated governmental departments and 20 household waste utilization enterprises in China. From the investigation, three typical enterprises, representing the advanced technology for food waste, the recycling mode of recyclable waste and the cultivation mode of leading enterprises, were selected for case studies. The results indicate that applying the technology of bioconversion by maggots could improve the utilization of food waste and adopting the “online and offline” dual-channel mode could benefit the recycling of low-value recyclable waste. Additionally, leading enterprises can be cultivated by franchise mode, which can drive the utilization of household waste in China effectively. The findings enrich the theory of household waste utilization in terms of disposal methods, recycling modes and enterprise operation. Practically, this research should enlighten decision-makers to improve household waste utilization. Furthermore, the research results could be generalized in other countries, thereby advancing the household waste management worldwide.

Keywords: household waste utilization; bioconversion technology; online and offline recycling; franchise mode; case study (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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