Has Incineration Replaced Recycling? Evidence from OECD Countries

Thomas C. Kinnaman () and Masashi Yamamoto
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Thomas C. Kinnaman: Department of Economics, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA 17837, USA
Masashi Yamamoto: Department of Economics, Tokai University, Tokyo 151-8677, Japan

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 4, 1-12

Abstract: Despite public efforts to promote recycling, recycling rates in OECD countries with mature recycling programs in 2000 have largely stagnated over the past 20 years. Could the rapid growth in incineration have played a role in suppressing the growth in recycling? This paper introduces a model to understand the relationship (possibly positive or negative) between incineration and recycling. A cursory examination of the data within individual countries appears to support the model by demonstrating both a positive and negative relationship. An econometric model that estimates incineration has a negative but statistically insignificant effect on recycling rates. This result contrasts with the previous literature which found a negative and statistically significant negative relationship between incineration and recycling.

Keywords: solid waste; recycling; incineration; waste management policy; circular economy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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