Integrated Economic and Environmental Assessment of Waste Policy Instruments

Maria Ljunggren Söderman, Ola Eriksson, Anna Björklund, Göran Östblom, Tomas Ekvall, Göran Finnveden, Yevgeniya Arushanyan and Jan-Olov Sundqvist
Additional contact information
Maria Ljunggren Söderman: Division of Environmental Systems Analysis, Department of Energy and Environment, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-412 58 Gothenburg, Sweden
Ola Eriksson: Department of Building, Energy and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Sustainable Development, University of Gävle, Kungsbäcksvägen 47, SE-801 76 Gävle, Sweden
Anna Björklund: Division of Environmental Strategies Research, Department of Sustainable Development, Environmental Sciences and Engineering, School of Architecture and Built Environment, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SE-100 44 Stockholm, Sweden
Göran Östblom: National Institute of Economic Research, Box 3116, SE-103 62 Stockholm, Sweden
Tomas Ekvall: IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, Box 210 60, SE-100 31 Stockholm, Sweden
Göran Finnveden: Division of Environmental Strategies Research, Department of Sustainable Development, Environmental Sciences and Engineering, School of Architecture and Built Environment, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SE-100 44 Stockholm, Sweden
Yevgeniya Arushanyan: Division of Environmental Strategies Research, Department of Sustainable Development, Environmental Sciences and Engineering, School of Architecture and Built Environment, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SE-100 44 Stockholm, Sweden
Jan-Olov Sundqvist: IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, Box 210 60, SE-100 31 Stockholm, Sweden

Sustainability, 2016, vol. 8, issue 5, 1-21

Abstract: The need for new policy instruments supporting the on-going transition from end-of-pipe waste treatment to resource management has been recognized in European policy. Instruments need to be carefully assessed before implementation to promote the desired changes and avoid problem shifting. Mathematical models may assist policy makers in such assessments. This paper presents a set of soft-linked models for assessing the economic and environmental impacts of policy instruments for both the prevention and management of waste and discusses its strengths and limitations. Consisting of (1) a macro-economic model, (2) a systems engineering model for waste management and (3) a life cycle assessment model for waste management, the set is primarily suited to assessing market-based instruments and environmental regulations. Considerable resources were needed for developing and using the set, and there are clear limits as to what can be addressed. However, if only one of the models had been used, neither the range of instruments nor the scope of impacts would have been possible to cover. Furthermore, soft-linked models allow many disciplines to contribute within one harmonized framework. Such integrated assessments may become increasingly useful for continuing the implementation of policy for sustainable governance of society’s material resources.

Keywords: waste policy; waste prevention; waste management; CGE models; systems engineering models; life cycle assessment; life cycle sustainability analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:8:y:2016:i:5:p:411-:d:68948

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